Abu Dhabi Test Kicks Off F1's 2026 Era With Radical Tire Changes
F1 teams begin 2026 preparations at Abu Dhabi test using mule cars to evaluate Pirelli's narrower tires amid major regulation shifts. Norris participates while Verstappen skips as sport transitions to active aerodynamics era.
Formula 1 has launched its first concrete steps toward the 2026 regulations during this week's Abu Dhabi post-season test, with all 10 teams running specially adapted 'mule cars' to simulate next year's radical technical changes. These modified vehicles—featuring significantly narrower tires and reduced downforce levels—are providing Pirelli with critical data as the sport prepares to abandon ground-effect aerodynamics for active systems and lighter chassis designs.
Why it matters:
This test represents F1's first collective validation of 2026's fundamental technical direction, when the sport will undergo its most significant transformation since 2022. The tire data gathered here directly impacts how teams will develop their next-generation cars, particularly as Pirelli must balance durability with performance amid reduced downforce and new active aerodynamics—factors that could dramatically alter racing dynamics and overtaking potential.
The details:
- Tire specifications: Front tires are 25mm narrower (300g lighter) while rears shrink 30mm (500g lighter), requiring Pirelli to recalibrate compounds for stability during high-speed corners with less mechanical grip
- Testing constraints: Teams agreed to cap straight-line speeds at 290-300km/h during simulations since 2026 cars will generate substantially less downforce
- Development challenge: Pirelli's Mario Isola confirmed teams struggled to accurately model 2026 performance, making these mule tests essential for tire development amid uncertain development trajectories
- Driver participation: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are testing McLaren's mule car, while Max Verstappen and George Russell skipped the session—highlighting varying team priorities in early 2026 preparations
What's next:
The Abu Dhabi data will directly inform Pirelli's final 2026 tire specifications before homologation, while teams use the findings to refine their computational models for next year's chassis development. With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc jointly testing Ferrari's mule car, the Scuderia appears particularly invested in early validation—potentially signaling aggressive development plans for their first Hamilton-era challenger. As teams digest this week's findings, the real test comes in February 2026 when the first true 2026 cars hit the track, revealing whether the sport's ambitious technical reset achieves its goal of closer racing and more overtaking.