‘More robust’ F1 tyre in 2025
Pirelli is planning to make next year’s range of updated Formula 1 tyres ‘more robust’, based on simulation data the tyre manufacturer gathered over the winter.
The Italian supplier is gearing up for adjustments ahead of the final season of the current ground effect regulations, aimed at reducing overheating whilst maintaining the strategy element of multi-stop races on different compounds.
‘We had the simulations from the teams at the beginning of December,’ said Pirelli’s motorsport director Mario Isola. ‘We received their simulations with an estimation of the loads and speeds, and stress on tyres [through to] the end of 2024.
‘According to these numbers, there will be an increase in performance. [So] we decided to work a bit in the beginning of our test campaign to design a more robust construction.’
Isola stressed that ‘doesn’t mean heavier’ but, rather, that the tyre structure must be more resistant to fatigue.
‘The first part of the development for 2025 will be focused on this,’ he added. ‘Then, we have to redesign the compound range in order to reduce overheating.’
When a tyre’s surface becomes overheated, it reduces the car’s grip and leads to sliding. Grip can be recovered by slowing down for a lap, which is acceptable in qualifying, but overheating contributes to thermal degradation of the tyre, which increases with mileage.
Having previously been under review, the retention of tyre blankets in F1 is helping to manage the overheating problem.
‘It’s a big challenge,’ admitted Isola. ‘What we can do is modify the working range of the compounds in order to protect the overheating a bit more. Construction is important, because the way in which you distribute the pressure on the dynamic footprint, it’s important to ensure we don’t have any peaks anywhere. These two elements together should reduce overheating without affecting thermal degradation too much.’
Pirelli conducted two real-world tests for potential 2025 tyre options in early February, involving Ferrari at Barcelona (1400km) and Mercedes and Aston Martin at Jerez (2500km).
Pirelli needs to finalise its updated tyre construction by September 1 and has until December to decide on compounds. The supplier can choose how many slick compounds it uses, but Isola suggested that sticking with five would be suitable for the variety of tracks F1 visits.