A big part of the push for the larger wheels was Pirelli wanting a stronger sidewall tire to deal with the insane load and energy the teams are putting through them. If the assumption is that the 2026 cars will be slower, smaller, and lighter, it would make sense to change the tire and wheel setups as part of the overall philosophy and not just as an afterthought.
A big part of the push for the larger wheels was Pirelli wanting a stronger sidewall tire to deal with the insane load and energy the teams are putting through them. If the assumption is that the 2026 cars will be slower, smaller, and lighter, it would make sense to change the tire and wheel setups as part of the overall philosophy and not just as an afterthought.