F1MATHS: What did we learn about Pirelli's Monza tyre testing?
Following last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix, Formula One's sole tyre manufacturer Pirelli stayed at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza to carry out a two-day tyre test with Aston Martin, Red Bull, Racing Bulls and Williams.
Target - Pirelli’s two-day test at Monza focused on developing the 2026 compounds that will make their debut on the all-new 2026 F1 cars next March.
Four teams - Four outfits took part in the post-Monza running, with Aston Martin and Red Bull having racked up laps on the opening day before Williams and Racing Bulls brought the running to an end on Wednesday.
Five drivers - On the back of his utterly dominant performance at the Italian Grand Prix, reigning champion Max Verstappen got behind the wheel of his Red Bull on Thursday, while his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda and Aston Martin's reserve driver Felipe Drugovich also took part in the tyre test on Day 1.
The second day saw Isack Hadjar get behind the wheel of his Racing Bulls, while Carlos Sainz drove forWilliams, testing Pirelli's 2026 F1 tyres.
Disruption - Although the Italian Grand Prix took place in sunny and warm conditions, there was a slight disruption on Wednesday morning. When Sainz and Hadjar arrived at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, they were welcomed by a damp track surface as rain fell on the circuit throughout the morning.
However, Sainz and Hadjar did not spend the morning in the garage as the damp surface provided them with the opportunity of testing Pirelli's Cinturato Intermediate in real-life conditions. These green-marked tyres had already been tested at Fiorano with Ferrari – when the track was artificially dampened thanks to the irrigation system at the Italian circuit.
Softer compounds - Alongside the short testing of the intermediate tyres, the two-day tyre test focused on the evaulation of the C4, C5 and C6 compounds. However, the damp surface has also allowed Pirelli to carry out a deeper analysis of the crossover phase between intermediates and slicks.
2,705km - Over the course of the two day of testing at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Pirelli has amassed an overall total of 467 laps for a total of 2,705 kilometres.
Carlos Sainz completed 57 laps, with a best time of 1’22’’108 on lap 24. Isack Hadjar stopped the clock at 1’23’’825 on lap 30 of 56. The ambient temperatures were within the range of 20°C and 25°C, while the tarmac went from 27°C to 32°C.
Cars - Williams took to the track with a mule car derived from the current FW47 while the Racing Bulls used a modified version of its VCARB01 from 2024. The modifications to the car were necessary to be able to fit the prototype tyres, which are slightly narrower compared to this year’s tyres, while keeping the same diameter.
Plans - The slick tyre testing will return at the end of September to the Mugello circuit and then for two more days after the race weekend in Mexico City. In Italy the harder tyres from the range will be finalised while in Mexico the softer tyres will again be put to the test.
These dates are the last two on Pirelli’s development calendar for 2025 and they will be followed by the usual end-of-season testing scheduled for December in Abu Dhabi.
Deadline - Pirelli has noted that it managed to collect the necessary data to proceed with the development of the slick compounds to be used next season, which will have to be homologated by December 15.
