Aston Martin, first team to test tires for 2026

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"New regulations that will come into effect for the 2026 season. In order to best prepare for this transition, numerous tests are anticipated to test and fine-tune the various elements of the future single-seaters. This is the case for the tires, produced by the exclusive supplier Pirelli, tested for the first time this Tuesday in Barcelona."

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"The look of F1 for the 2026 season"

Aston Martin has indeed fitted a first version of the tyres meeting the regulations for 2026. As specified by F1, « the size of the 18-inch wheels present on the current generation of cars will remain the same, the width and outer diameter of the tyres will be reduced by 25 mm on the front axles and by 30 mm on the rear axles.

An advantage for Aston Martin?

Felipe Drugovich had the honor, this Tuesday, of covering 670 km on the Barcelona track with prototypes of the new tires. However, the choice to call on the British team was only due to chance. There was a selection process – or a draw – because a certain number of teams wanted to participate in this testing program. We were drawn first, so we are the first ones to do it,” team director Mike Krack said when announcing these tests in July.

Aston Martin can therefore gather data ahead of the others. But the tires are bound to change, so this data could become obsolete before long. Also, it will be the turn of other teams to carry out tests later on. The single-seaters used for these tests are also unique. The FIA had announced the use of mule cars for these test runs. Cars made up of a mix of parts from previous seasons in order to replicate as closely as possible the models that will be on the Grid in 2026.

All teams are also informed of the test results by the manufacturer, as Mario Isola, head of motorsport at Pirelli, had specified: « This is the very first test. We will be testing the baseline to understand if the balance is correct. Obviously, we have simulations and tests in the lab, and we have already communicated the lab data to all teams, as usual, and we will also distribute the report to the teams after the test. »

Another session took place this Wednesday, still in Barcelona and still conducted by the Brazilian Drugovich.