There will be no change in tire pressure for the 2026 cars for the time being. This was revealed by Pirelli after the teams voted against a proposal from the tire supplier to lower the high tire pressure. Pirelli hoped to introduce a new rule that would prevent drivers with problems in ‘straight mode’ from continuing on the track. However, the teams did not like this plan: “As far as we are concerned, that’s fine,” said Pirelli boss Simone Berra.
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A common complaint from drivers this year is that the tire pressures prescribed by Pirelli are too high. The tires thus provide less grip, making the 2026 cars even harder to drive. Oliver Bearman even compared the rubber to ‘balloons’ during the GP Barcelona in an interview with The Race. The higher tire pressures, which are often about 3-4 psi higher than last year depending on the circuit, are the result of the new rules for active aerodynamics in F1.
To help the drivers, Pirelli came up with a proposal to reduce the tire pressure. It involved introducing a rule whereby a car that had a problem with its active aerodynamics and could not activate ‘straight mode’ would no longer be allowed to stay on the track. The driver would have to return to the pits and, if the problem could not be fixed, would not be able to continue the race.
If this rule had come into effect, there would have been no risk of cars driving over the straights for an extended period in the so-called ‘corner mode’ – when the wing flaps are closed. For Pirelli, that would have been enough to lower the tire pressure to a level that the drivers would have been more satisfied with.
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Teams voted against
Although the idea was considered feasible by the FIA, support from the teams was lacking. The Race reports that reportedly some teams did not want to adjust the tire pressure mid-season because it could have affected their competitive position. As a result, the higher tire pressures remain in effect even after the summer break.
Simone Berra, chief engineer at Pirelli, said he was not “particularly surprised” that the teams voted against the plan, even though it was something the drivers had requested. “The majority decided to maintain the higher tire pressure,” said the Pirelli boss. “As far as we are concerned, that’s fine.”
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