Pirelli to Test Wet Tires in Abrasive Bahrain for 2026

Pirelli will run an unusual wet-weather tire test at the Bahrain International Circuit on Feb. 28–Mar. 1 to evaluate and improve its full-wet and intermediate compounds for 2026 development. The program is a response to driver complaints that the current full-wet has been difficult or effectively unusable, and Pirelli’s stated objective is to shorten the crossover time between full-wet and intermediate so the full-wet becomes a viable strategic option rather than a last resort.

The two-day test will use McLaren and Mercedes mule cars fitted with 2026-like prototype tires matched to the revised 18-inch-wheel F1 cars. Pirelli will evaluate both intermediate and full-wet compounds and adjust constructions and compounds to suit new car dynamics, including narrower front and rear tires, higher acceleration forces and sudden vertical loads when straight-line mode deactivates.

Bahrain was chosen because its abrasive, high-severity surface will place greater stress on wet rubber and is expected to reveal wear modes and weaknesses that do not appear on European tracks with permanent sprinkler systems, producing tougher, more representative data for development and race strategy. Pirelli plans three wet sessions in 2026 (Bahrain, Fiorano and either Paul Ricard or Magny-Cours), and noted that sweeping regulation changes have left it with limited usable data from current cars. Wetting the circuit presents a logistical challenge—sources differ on the method, with some saying Bahrain lacks conventional sprinkler tanks and organizers coordinating an alternative full-track wetting system while at least one report says the circuit can be uniformly wetted using a full-track sprinkler system—and Pirelli says consistent water levels are essential because inconsistent wetting could skew results. Pirelli is limited to a maximum of 40 testing days, which increases the importance of each wet session, and the Bahrain data will directly influence 2026 tire specifications, including whether to retain separate intermediate and full-wet compounds or consolidate to a single “super intermediate.” Pirelli is proceeding with targeted testing even as its future supply position remains under scrutiny.