Pirelli worked with Williams and Alpine on tires for 2026 after winter testing in Bahrain, covering 2,700 kilometers in the process.
The winter tests in Bahrain went into the next round for tire manufacturer Pirelli. After all ten teams had tested for three days last week, the Italians added another two days and continued testing tires for the 2026 Formula One season.
Williams and Alpine each provided a 2023 car that had been modified to best simulate the challenges of the new 2026 cars.
Carlos Sainz drove 116 laps for Williams on Sunday, with Alexander Albon driving 120 laps the following day. Alpine had two test drivers in the seat, Ryo Hirakawa and Paul Aron, with Hirakawa completing 131 laps on Sunday before Aron added another 130 on Monday.
“Another very productive day for the development of the 2026 tires,” commented Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola. ‘We covered almost 2,700 kilometers and were able to collect a large amount of data that we will incorporate into our program.’
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the drivers and teams who extended their stay at the Bahrain circuit for another three days – and that at an already stressful time, with less than two weeks to go before the first race,” said the Italian.
On Sunday, Pirelli tested a range of constructions, all run on the same compound. On the second day, the focus was on different compounds, with just one construction used. The drivers tried out compounds C1 to C3.
“In Sachir, we compared different constructions and compounds, this time with the toughest variants of the range that match the characteristics of this track,“ says Isola.
”Now our colleagues in research and development will analyze the information we have gathered and provide valuable insights so that we can further improve the product for the next generation of cars.”
This concludes a busy period of testing for Pirelli ahead of the season. The next tire test will take place at Silverstone on May 7th and 8th, where Mercedes will work on the development of intermediates and wet weather tires for 2026.
