F1, Sportrik Media - Max Verstappen described the 2026 Pirelli Formula 1 tyres as “super sensitive” after completing a full day of uninterrupted running with Red Bull during pre-season testing in Bahrain. The four-time world champion logged 139 laps across Thursday’s eight-hour session, marking one of the most extensive programmes on track.
Verstappen dedicated the day primarily to long-run simulations and race-pace correlation, a critical focus under the revised 2026 technical regulations. With active aerodynamics and a new hybrid energy balance influencing load distribution, tyre temperature stability and degradation management have become central to overall performance consistency.
“As a team, it was good to focus on longer run performance today,” Verstappen said.
“We made some adjustments to the set-up, which has given us some good direction overnight. Having a full day of running was positive. The tyres are super sensitive, so there’s still a lot of analysis required there.”
The remark highlights the complexity teams face in managing tyre behaviour under fluctuating aerodynamic loads. Reduced drag on straights followed by rapid downforce increases into braking zones can create sharper thermal swings, requiring precise pressure control and balance adjustments to maintain optimal grip levels over a stint.
Verstappen will return to the cockpit on the final day of testing, sharing driving duties with team-mate Isack Hadjar. The split programme is designed to maximise data collection before the championship heads to Australia for the season opener.
“On Friday, we will aim to get as many laps as we can between us,” Verstappen added.
“There is still a lot to understand, so we hope to get as much data on the car as we can ahead of Melbourne.”
Red Bull’s emphasis on lap accumulation reflects a structured approach focused on correlation and tyre understanding rather than headline lap times. With performance margins expected to be tight at the start of the season, effective tyre management could prove decisive in race strategy execution.
As testing concludes in Bahrain, the priority remains refining long-run consistency and clarifying the car’s operating window. For Verstappen and Red Bull, the data gathered in the closing sessions will form the foundation of their competitive readiness for the opening round of the 2026 campaign.
Baca Juga
Max Verstappen sebut ban Pirelli F1 2026 super sensitif usai 139 lap di Bahrain, Red Bull fokus long run dan analisis data jelang Australia.
Carlos Sainz ungkap Williams pulihkan mileage usai absen Barcelona, namun FW48 masih punya banyak keterbatasan jelang F1 2026.
F1 2026 berpotensi jadi musim paling dinamis era hybrid dengan regulasi baru, Russell, Norris, Hamilton, Alonso, dan empat tim besar bersaing ketat.
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