As Formula 1 gears up for a significant shift just a year away, not everyone is excited about the early glimpses of what’s to come. George Russell, in particular, hasn’t held back in his criticism of Pirelli’s new generation of tires.
Russell, driving for Mercedes, hasn’t minced words when discussing the Italian tire manufacturer’s latest offerings. He’s labeled them “quite a step worse” than what’s currently being used.
With the sport poised for major changes in 2026, featuring narrower tires and an overhauled set of rules, Russell’s comments have thrown Pirelli into the spotlight, raising questions about the future of F1 racing.
### Skinnier Tires: A Pain Point?
The 2026 regulations are all about transformation: cars will have 15% less downforce, sleeker designs, and tires trimmed down — 25mm skinnier at the front and 30mm at the rear, aimed at cutting drag and boosting efficiency.
Recently, as part of Pirelli’s testing program, Russell took the wheel of a modified 2024-spec Mercedes W15 at Jerez. This “mule car” has been tailored with slimmer wings to emulate next year’s expected downforce reduction.
The objective was to gather crucial data for Pirelli’s upcoming tire redesign. However, the ride left Russell less than impressed.
“That [the test] was a bit of a challenge compared to the wider tires we have today,” Russell reportedly mentioned during an interview in Bahrain last week.
“It was quite a step worse with the new tires. That is naturally the case, because they’re just much more narrow. So hopefully they will be improved over the upcoming months.”
It’s hardly a rave review! With reduced grip due to the slimmer profile, Russell is sounding the alarm that Pirelli’s 2026 lineup might stumble when faced with F1’s high-speed requirements.
### Mule Cars: Mixed Reviews
As teams test the waters with their adjusted ‘mule cars’ to replicate 2026 conditions, the feedback they’re getting isn’t entirely clear.
Even with a reduction in downforce, test runs have been hitting current speeds, making it difficult to predict the tires’ performance when the new cars are officially rolled out.
It’s akin to trying to fine-tune an engine with one hand tied behind your back—close, but not quite accurate.
Pirelli’s Racing Manager, Mario Isola, is well aware of the challenges.
“We cannot just rely on the mule cars because it won’t be sensible,” he told Autosport.
“We will continue to provide them with a virtual model of the tire to use in their simulators, and they come back to us with their feedback. And this is the right direction we should continue in.”
Even though simulators may lack the thrill of real racing, they are shaping up to be vital in unraveling this tire dilemma.
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