The smaller tyres that will come into effect with the new Formula 1 regulations in 2026 have been given their first test with Aston Martin in Barcelona this week.
The car, an Aston Martin mule driven by its test driver Felipe Drugovich, completed 760km on Tuesday, with further running being completed today.
This is the first of what is anticipated to be a series of tests in which all other F1 teams will produce mule cars for the tyres to be tested on.
The changes come as part of a collective wish for F1 cars to be made lighter, with Pirelli producing front and rear tyres that will be narrower 25 and 30mm respectively, with diameters changing from 720mm to between 705 and 710mm.
Usage of the mule cars have arisen amid the FIA’s altering of the rules to ensure that cars can be run to give Pirelli enough time to significantly test the tyres.
The Italian company’s Head of Racing , Mario Isola, said: “Obviously, on one side, they [the FIA] don’t want to give an advantage to anyone. That is understandable.
“On the other side, we need to have cars that are as much as possible representative of the 2026 situation. We will choose, together with the teams, a downforce level that is representative.
“But this is the very first test. We are going to test the baseline to understand if the balance is correct.
“Obviously, we have simulations, and we have indoor testing, and we already released indoor data to all the teams, as usual, and we are going to distribute the report after the test with the teams too.”
Aston Martin chosen at random to receive initial test
This change of the rules and the necessity to ensure all teams are given equal treatment resulted in all teams being given the opportunity to run said mule cars with the new tyres, with Aston Martin being chosen to as the first to run them via a lottery.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s Team Principal, has revealed the Silverstone-based squad were chosen as the first team to test the tyres via a lottery in which all teams were participant.
“There was a selection process – or a lottery process – because there was a number of teams who wanted to be part of this test programme.
“We were drawn first, so we are the first to do this.”
It is understood that McLaren and Alpine will be the next teams to partake in the tests, which, given the proximity of time, will enable all the constructors to have ample opportunities to, quite literally, get to grips with the brand new rubber.
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