After the official three-day pre-season testing in Bahrain, Pirelli stayed on for an extra two days to continue developing the tyres that will be used in Formula 1 from 2026. The test was carried out with Alpine and Williams, focusing on the new tyres, which will be smaller in diameter and narrower than the current ones.

On the first day, the teams tested different tyre constructions while using the same compound. Carlos Sainz drove for Williams, completing 116 laps with a best time of 1’34”740. Ryo Hirakawa, who had just raced in the World Endurance Championship in Qatar, was behind the wheel for Alpine. He completed 131 laps, with a best time of 1’35”336. Both teams used specially modified versions of their 2023 cars (Williams FW45 and Alpine A523) to fit the new tyre specifications.

On the second day, the focus shifted to testing different tyre compounds (C1 to C3) while keeping the construction the same to ensure a fair comparison. Paul Aron took over for Alpine, driving 130 laps with a best time of 1’35”407. Alexander Albon drove for Williams, completing 120 laps, with his best time being 1’35”667. The weather was ideal for testing, with track temperatures ranging from 23 to 38°C.

Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, Mario Isola, was pleased with the test, highlighting that nearly 2,700 km were completed, providing valuable data for further tyre development. The next test will take place at Silverstone on 7–8 May, where Mercedes will focus on testing intermediate and extreme wet tyres.