Home F1 Pirelli done with F1 2026 dry weather tyre test in Bahrain

Pirelli done with F1 2026 dry weather tyre test in Bahrain

03/03/2025

Pirelli Motorsport is done with another dry weather tyre test for F1 2026 with Williams and Alpine in action in Bahrain.

Day 1 –

After the three day test involving all the drivers and teams competing in the Formula 1 championship, the Sakhir track is now hosting “extra time” with two more days of Pirelli testing, carried out with Alpine and Williams.

The aim is the same since the start of this year, to develop the new generation of 18” tyres, with a smaller diameter and narrower by 25 millimetres at the front and 30 at the rear, that will be used as from 2026.

Today’s programme focused on evaluating various different constructions, but with the same compound. Spain’s Carlos Sainz was at the wheel for Williams, completing a total of 116 laps, the fastest in a time of 1’34”740, while Alpine fielded Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, who made the trip from the Lusail circuit where last Friday, he had been racing in the 1812 kilometres of Qatar, the opening round of the World Endurance Championship.

He completed 131 laps, the best being a 1’35”336. Both cars were specially modified to accommodate the new specification of tyre, based on those used in the 2023 season: the Alpine A523 and the Williams FW45. Testing continues at this circuit tomorrow, when Paul Aron will drive the Alpine and Alexander Albon the Williams.

Day 2 –

This afternoon, the curtain came down on a long test session for Pirelli at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit. After the three day official pre-season test, from 26 to 28 February, Formula 1’s Global Tyre Partner spent the past two days working with Alpine and Williams on further on-track development of the 2026 tyres which, as per the regulations will feature a smaller diameter and will be narrower by 25 millimetres at the front and 30 at the rear, than the current ones.

Yesterday, Carlos Sainz was driving for Williams and Ryo Hirakawa for Alpine, at the wheel of their respective mule-cars, based on their 2023 season machines, the FW45 and the A523. In the respective cockpits today, Alexander Albon and Paul Aron. Yesterday’s work focused solely on a comparison of different constructions, using just one compound, while today it was the opposite: the drivers were able to test various types of compound, from the C1 to the C3, using just one construction in order to have a stable baseline for the comparison of data from the different prototypes.

Today, the weather finally improved with ideal temperatures of between 19 and 24 °C for the air, with the track going from 23 to 38 °C. Alpine’s Estonian driver completed 130 laps, the quickest in 1’35”407, finishing his day’s work shortly after 16.30. Williams’ Thai driver did 120 laps with a best time of 1’35”667.

“Another very useful day for the development of the 2026 tyres,” commented Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Director of Motorsport. “Almost 2,700 kilometres completed, we have been able to gather a significant amount of data to take forward in our programme. I would like to really thank the drivers and teams who extended their stay at the Bahrain track by a further three days at what is such a busy time, with less than two weeks to go to the first race. In Sakhir we continued with a comparison of different types of construction and compound, the latter at the hardest end of the range, to suit the characteristics of this track. Now, our colleagues in R&D will analyse the information carefully and provide useful indications so that we can continue to improve the product for the next generation of cars.”

The next test session for the 2026 tyres will take place at Silverstone (UK) on 7 and 8 May: Mercedes will be on track, working on the development of the intermediate and extreme wet tyres. Formula 1 returns to Bahrain for the 21st edition of this Grand Prix over the weekend of 11 to 13 April.