Pirelli focuses on soft compounds at Mexico City test

Pirelli’s last development test for the 2026 Formula 1 tyres, before all the teams get to try them at the post-season session after this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is currently taking place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

Fresh from his 10th place at the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend, Gabriel Bortoleto took to the track today driving a mule car based on the current Sauber C45.

Pirelli tested the softer tyres in the new range throughout the day, from C3 to C6. In the morning, the Brazilian driver sampled all the options available, starting with the softest compounds before moving onto some harder tyres to take advantage of the progressive rise in track temperature.

The first hours targeted performance runs, which Pirelli says were useful for its engineers to assess the gaps between the different compounds in terms of lap time. In the afternoon, the best options identified during the morning were put to the test with longer runs up to 15 laps, in order to measure degradation levels.

Bortoleto completed 136 laps today, covering over 585km in total. His best time of 1m19.089s was set on lap 45.

Pirelli reports that weather conditions remained stable throughout the day, with clear skies and track temperatures that peaked at 51°C.

The Pirelli test will continue tomorrow, with Valtteri Bottas driving a mule car based on the 2024 Mercedes W15. The Finn will follow a run plan similar to that carried out by Bortoleto today.