At its development center in Milan, Pirelli is working on the tires of the future—simulations alone are no longer enough
Pirelli is driving the development of tires for the 2026 Formula 1 season with a combination of virtual simulations and traditional track testing. The Italian manufacturer has now granted selected journalists insights into its work at the research and development center in Milan.
The tires are considered the only connection between a Formula 1 car and the racetrack, so they play a decisive role in performance. At the same time, the tires must keep pace with the sweeping rule changes of the current season and continue to evolve. To meet this challenge, Pirelli is increasingly relying on modern development tools.
The visit to Milan took place following the Miami Grand Prix. Unlike the production facility in Slatina, Romania, the plant in Milan serves as a modern development center. According to Pirelli, around a thousand people work there. In addition to virtual simulation rooms, the facility features several floors with various test benches and laboratories.
Combination of simulation and real-world testing
Particular emphasis is placed on the combination of digital and physical testing. “We develop the tire using state-of-the-art methods on computers and test benches, but in the end, a real tire must still be validated to verify whether certain concepts also work on the track,” explains Head of Development Guido Carosio.
According to Carosio, the work begins with a virtual version of the tire. First, the design and materials are simulated. Nevertheless, real-world testing is indispensable: “Once the design and compounds have been finalized, you need physical tires to see if the design actually delivers the desired performance.”
Traditional methods also continue to play a role in Milan. In a special department, employees known at Pirelli as “Scorbiatori” cut different tread patterns into the tires by hand. True Italian craftsmanship. This manual process serves to test new tread variations and concepts under real-world conditions.
Test bench designed to simulate real-world conditions
Another key element in Milan is the so-called indoor test bench. There, various road surfaces can be simulated by precisely controlling speed, temperature, and movements. According to Pirelli, the system is fully automated and allows for testing multiple sets of tires under identical conditions.
“We can compare different tire types with varying characteristics and precisely analyze the effects of construction, compound, and tread pattern,” says Carosio. The test bench also enables reproducible results and eliminates external influences.
Data analysis as a key component of development
In addition to indoor testing, data analysis also plays a crucial role. Pirelli feeds the insights gained into its own vehicle simulators to predict how the tires will behave under various conditions. The goal is not only to increase absolute performance but also to better understand the differences between various compounds.
According to Pirelli, developing tires for 2026 is proving particularly challenging. The new cars feature different aerodynamic concepts and technical specifications, which has also changed the demands placed on the tires. Additionally, the simulation results varied significantly from one another in the early stages.
“The task is complex because Formula 1 tires are very demanding these days,” Carosio continues. “But that’s exactly what makes the work interesting.”
This weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, known for its hard braking points and changing grip conditions, tire management will play a central role. It will be particularly interesting to see how Pirelli’s soft compounds perform under the track’s demands.