The running session at the Mexican F1 GP on Friday was far from thrilling, as teams shifted their focus to a crucial tyre test. Pirelli, the official tyre supplier for Formula 1, is preparing to introduce new tyre compounds in 2025, including the C6 tyre designed to mimic the characteristics of the old ultrasoft and hypersoft tyres. This session was an opportunity for teams to collect valuable data that could impact their strategies for the upcoming seasons, despite the lack of traditional racing excitement.
In FP2, drivers participated in a well-structured testing session under Pirelli’s guidelines, which lasted for an hour and a half. Each driver was instructed to complete five performance laps with 20kg of fuel in their cars, using both a baseline tyre from the 2024 season and a test tyre for 2025. For the long runs, the teams followed a similar plan, comparing the two tyres over 12 laps with 100kg of fuel in the car. This detailed approach aimed to give teams comprehensive insights into tyre performance.
However, the session was interrupted early on by a red flag caused by George Russell, resulting in a delay in repairs to the TecPro barriers at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Once the action resumed, lap times improved significantly, but this raised concerns about the reliability of the performance comparisons. Despite this, teams were still able to gather useful data on the differences between the 2024 and 2025 tyre compounds through teammate comparisons and best laps achieved after the red flag.
Pirelli’s focus on developing new tyre compounds seems to address the persistent issue of overheating that drivers have frequently complained about. Initial feedback suggests that the C6 tyre is softer and provides better performance. However, concerns linger regarding its management during races, which may lead teams to prefer the current C5 tyre, given its better long-run times and stability. Notably, the newly tested C4 medium tyre, while seemingly less competitive in performance laps, exhibited strong stability and solid race pace, indicating it could become an important choice for teams in the future.
Looking ahead, teams will have the chance to further evaluate these new compounds during the post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, where they can conduct more extensive assessments. The early results appear promising for the C4 and C5 tyres, while the experimental C6 has not yet met expectations. Given the continuity in technical regulations for next season, the data collected from these tests is expected to help teams refine their strategies as they prepare for an exciting 2025 season in Formula 1 racing.
