Pirelli’s head of motorsport, Dario Marrafuschi, has opened up about the significant technical challenges and opportunities defining Formula 1’s new regulatory era.
Speaking in detail about the 2026 season, Marrafuschi explained how open wheel rim regulations have become a major performance lever for teams across the grid.
Pirelli’s supply agreement with Formula 1 has been extended through 2028, a development Marrafuschi described as a testament to the company’s ongoing commitment and reputation built over many years.
“Since 2011, we have been a supplier, a technical partner, and a global partner for F1,” Marrafuschi said, noting Pirelli’s connection to the sport dating back to the very first race in Silverstone in 1950.
On the subject of wheel rim development, Marrafuschi noted that rims with hollow spokes, which some teams call pockets, have emerged as a key tool for managing heat exchange between brake ducts and tyres.
“The open wheel rim regulations are indeed an opportunity for the teams, perhaps not very visible on television for the general public, but highly significant,” Marrafuschi explained during the interview.
Teams are pursuing two distinct philosophies, with some targeting higher tyre temperatures to aid warm-up while others focus on lower pressures and cooler running conditions to maximise grip.
The 2026 cars generate less downforce than their predecessors, and Marrafuschi confirmed this directly affects how much heat is transferred into the tyres, particularly on low-energy circuits like Monaco.
“There is a lower thermal regime and the tyre’s thermal balance is different compared to last year,” he said, pointing to active aerodynamics and electric motor regeneration as contributing factors.
On the topic of the extra preparation lap used at Monaco, Marrafuschi confirmed it was adopted by virtually all teams to bring the C5 compound up to operating temperature on a circuit that generates minimal tyre energy.
Regarding McLaren’s reported sensitivity to corner-entry tyre behaviour, Marrafuschi attributed it to the team’s distinct development path, saying fans have noticed that McLaren has chosen a very different approach compared to other constructors.
He also confirmed that Pirelli analyses tyre wear patterns for every team at every race and session, with driving styles and set-up choices both influencing the results observed.
Looking ahead to 2027, Marrafuschi confirmed there will be no C6 compound introduced, with Pirelli sticking to five revised compound levels rescaled to suit next year’s target performance levels.
“We did think about and discuss whether to add another compound level, but looking at Monaco, in the end, we saw that most cars started on the C4, which was the medium,” he explained.
The super-intermediate wet tyre concept remains under active development, though Marrafuschi acknowledged that the loss of a planned wet test in Bahrain has slowed progress considerably.
He said Pirelli is evaluating whether it can recover at least one day of wet testing over the summer to gather the feedback currently missing from its development programme.
On the possibility of a replacement race in the Middle East to make up for a cancelled event, Marrafuschi painted a complex logistical picture involving the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi-controlled waters off Yemen.
“In the worst-case scenario, we’re looking at 15 to 16 weeks; in the best-case scenario, about six weeks,” he said, adding that uncertainty remains the dominant factor in any planning around that region.
Marrafuschi stressed that a grand prix is never added to the calendar unless the full logistics chain, including tyre supply, has been thoroughly assessed and confirmed as viable.