Max Verstappen Blames “Lack of Competition” Objectives for Pirelli’s 2026 Tire Choices

F1 Switched from the 13-inch wheels to the current 18-inch rims for the 2022 season. The change was most welcomed by many teams as F1 had been running the 13-inch rims since the 80s. It didn’t make sense to many to have the cutting-edge technology and have rim designs that didn’t support them. However, the love for the heavier 18-inch wheels didn’t last for long and now Max Verstappen is blaming the lack of competition for Pirelli’s choice of 2026 tires. 

F1 is introducing new regulations for the 2026 regulations, arguably the biggest change that F1 is going to see since the 2014 regulation changes, in terms of engine and chassis. Apart from the major power unit overhaul, F1 wants to shed some pounds of the F1 cars and make them narrower and lighter. As a result, Pirelli was asked to reduce the wheel size for 2026, not back to the old 13 inches, but to 16 inches. However, Pirelli isn’t in favor of making the changes. 

Max Verstappen has come out to point out the lack of competition i.e. only 1 tire manufacturer being the reason Pirelli is sticking to 18 inches. According to Motorsport, Max Verstappen said, “I think Pirelli himself doesn’t want to go to 16 inches because then you can get more overheating of the tires. Only then do I think to myself: ‘Maybe we should spend more time on it to make sure those 16-inch tires don’t overheat.” Talking about the lack of competition, he added, “That’s always the problem if you don’t have competition and are the only tire supplier. Then you ask yourself ‘Why do we actually have to invest all that money to develop completely new tires?’. So yes, of course, I understand that.”

Regardless, Pirelli’s F1 Boss Mario Isola commented on the decision to stick with the 18-inch wheels and explained why moving to 16 inches wouldn’t be a great idea.

Mario Isola on 16 Inch Wheels

While many may think the engine or the aerodynamics are the most important parts of an F1 car, it is actually the tires that have to sustain the high loads through the corners. Hence, the rims are a big deal. Mario Isola suggested how Pirelli will be making the tire narrower, with a smaller side profile to it. 

Mario Isola explained how a narrower tire will have the same weight as a smaller rim and said, “The difference between 16 and 18 and a narrow 18 is not huge. So the weight element is there. But it’s not the only element. There is an element of performance. Obviously if you were to go to 16-inch tires, much smaller, the risk of overheating is much higher. A smaller diameter means that you disperse the heat in a different way”.

Which way do you think Pirelli should go? The smaller diameter or narrower tires?