F1 | Pirelli: over 3000 km of tests in Suzuka with a view to 2025

After the race weekend in which the Japanese GP took place, Pirelli and Formula 1 stopped for a few more days in Suzuka to carry out a specific test session dedicated to tire development for next season.

The first day, which took place on Tuesday, was influenced by rain, especially in the morning, although this gave the opportunity to test the wet tyres, both the intermediate ones which do not need tyrewarmers, and the full wet ones, in order to reduce overheating phenomena. Only in the afternoon were the pilots involved in testing able to try the slicks.

In contrast, the second day saw better weather with ideal conditions for track work, with temperatures reaching 20°C for the air and 37°C for the asphalt. This has allowed Pirelli to work above all on the development of new compounds and dry constructions for the next championship, continuing the program started last winter and aimed at reducing overheating.

The test took place with the support of Racing Bulls and Sauber, exactly like yesterday: Valtteri Bottas once again ran for the Swiss team, while Yuki Tsunoda took to the track for the Faenza team, attracting a few hundred to the stands of fans, thus confirming the great passion of the Japanese public for Formula 1.

The two drivers logged many kilometers: Bottas completed 149 laps, stopping the clock at a time of 1:33.983, while Tsunoda completed 115 laps, with the best time of 1:34.337. In total, together with the laps completed yesterday, Pirelli carried out over 3000 kilometers of tests with a view to 2025, testing over a dozen different specifications.

The Italian manufacturer is in fact finalizing the approval of a new construction and a family of compounds that allow a significant reduction in overheating, one of the great objectives it has set itself to improve its product for next year.

A step requested by the riders, but it is clear that Pirelli must also keep up with the teams' aerodynamic load values. Although next season's single-seaters will be a carry-over of this year's, the teams will naturally continue their aerodynamic development, albeit not at such an accelerated pace, so the tires will have to withstand greater strain. In fact, the Milanese manufacturer receives from the teams during the world championship updated simulations on the load levels that the teams expect in the future, in order to give Pirelli the opportunity to intervene on its products to make them more resistant and reliable.

Valtteri Bottas talks to the Pirelli technicians at the end of the Suzuka test

Photo by: Pirelli

“First of all I want to thank Racing Bulls and Sauber and the three drivers for the support they gave us in this test: extending the presence on the track for another two days in this first part of the season which sees Formula 1 practically always working is a important commitment”, commented Mario Isola, Director of Pirelli Motorsport.

“As always happens in this type of test, the drivers worked in the dark, that is, without knowing what type of prototypes they were testing, alternating them with the current tires in order to have feedback free from any conditioning. With the over three thousand kilometers covered in Suzuka we have accumulated a lot of data on the development of the slicks but also some indications regarding the intermediate tyres”.

“This year's test program will continue in the coming months to be focused on finalizing a construction that ensures greater durability and on the complete renewal of the compound range with the aim of reducing overheating”.

The next Pirelli development test events are scheduled for 28 and 29 May at Le Castellet in France and 14 and 15 June at Mugello in Italy. Isola also confirmed that work will begin next September with a view to 2026: initially it was thought it would be possible to switch to 16-inch tires to reduce weight, but in the end it was decided to maintain the current size. However, the shoulder and width will be reduced in order to still meet the requirements of the FIA ​​and F1.