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Throughout the season that has
just finished, Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres covered enough kilometres to circle
the globe eight and a half times. From the first free practice session in
Melbourne to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, the tyres produced by the
Milan-based company travelled a total distance of 341,099 kilometres.
This figure reflects one of the most demanding seasons in the history of
the championship, after the calendar expanded to 24 races last year. On
these 24 circuits, spread out over five continents, Pirelli had to deliver
performance, reliability and adaptability in conditions ranging from the
extreme heat of the Arabian desert to the biting cold of Nevada.
The
2025 slick tyre range, made up of six compounds, accounted for 96% of the
total mileage. The two most widely used compounds, confirming their
versatility and strategic importance, were the C3 (93,493 kilometres) and C4
(91,595 kilometres). These were followed by the C5 (66,255 kilometres), C2
(35,012 kilometres), C6 (22,419 kilometres) and C1 (17,368 kilometres). Wet
weather tyres covered the remaining 4%: 12,893 kilometres on intermediates
and 2,064 kilometres on full wets.
In total, the tyres completed
67,094 laps – with a similar split between slicks and wets: 64,519 laps on
slicks and 2,578 on wets (about 4%). Across all the races, 720 pit stops
were made. The record was the Spanish Grand Prix, with 53 stops in
Barcelona. Miami had the fewest pit stops, with only 18.
The longest
stint of the year came from Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who covered 303
kilometres on a single set of C3 tyres in Jeddah, equating to 49 laps. The
Frenchman also stood out in Baku, covering 294 kilometres on a set of C4 to
confirm his tyre management skills.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly recorded
the longest run on the C2, completing 251 kilometres in Shanghai, while
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll covered 222 kilometres on the C5 in Baku.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg each drove 194
kilometres on a set of intermediates at Silverstone. The longest continuous
use of full wets was 61 kilometres during the Las Vegas weekend: 10 laps
each for the two Aston Martin drivers as well as for Hülkenberg.
The
number of tyre sets supplied by Pirelli over the course of the season
highlights the logistical complexity of motorsport’s pinnacle. In 2025,
teams had access to 6,120 sets of slicks in total, comprising 1,800 sets of
C5, 1,580 sets of C4, 1,400 sets of C3 and around 1,900 wet weather tyres.
The number of tyres allocated to each car, which varies depending on the
weekend format, is clearly defined by the technical regulations.
As
always, temperatures also influenced tyre behaviour. The highest track
temperature recorded during a session was 58.2 degrees centigrade at Jeddah
during FP2, while the highest air temperature was 39.1 degrees centigrade in
Bahrain during FP1. The coldest conditions were in Las Vegas, with 12
degrees centigrade on track and 11.8 degrees centigrade ambient during
qualifying. During the actual races, peak track temperature was 55.2 degrees
centigrade at Spielberg, while the highest air temperature was 34.4 degrees
centigrade in Texas. The lowest temperatures were 15 degrees centigrade on
track in Las Vegas and 14.3 degrees centigrade ambient in Melbourne.
The Formula 1 P Zero covers were not the only Pirelli tyres to take to the
track. The Pirelli Hot Laps programme, featuring Pirelli-equipped supercars
on the world’s grand prix circuits, was held this year at seven events. The
lucky passengers completed 2,528 laps across 32 sessions, using 12 car
models from seven different manufacturers.
At the wheel were 69
drivers, ranging from current stars such as Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen,
George Russell, Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli, and Oliver Bearman, to
emerging young talents like Paul Aron, Arthur Leclerc, Chloe Chambers and
Jak Crawford. Former world champions and race winners also took part –
including Mika Häkkinen, Jenson Button, Ralf Schumacher, and Pedro de la
Rosa – alongside endurance and GT specialists: all underscoring the breadth
and prestige of the programme.
Another significant figure came from
an off-track initiative. A show tyre, donated by Pirelli and signed by a
selection of Formula 1 drivers, was auctioned by RM Sotheby’s during the
final race weekend as part of Abu Dhabi Collector’s Week, fetching $31,200
USD. The entire proceeds were donated to the Make-A-Wish® UAE foundation,
which helps make the dreams of children suffering from serious illnesses
come true.
From extreme temperatures and strategic complexity to
logistical challenges and the Hot Laps program, the 2025 season once again
highlighted Pirelli’s crucial role as Formula 1’s global partner. |
