The second day of testing in Barcelona wasn't particularly exciting. Aside from the rain and Hadjar's crash on Red Bull in the afternoon (an accident that also appears to have required the intervention of a crane), there was little action. This is because only Ferrari and, indeed, Red Bull have decided to clock up the miles. The others, including those absent and those who had backed out, all stood by and watched.
So we asked ourselves: What could happen this year in case of rain? During the previous regulation era, Pirelli and the FIA had faced a major problem: the cars generated a lot of spray, visibility in rainy weather was very poor and, furthermore, the Full Wets, due to the few seasonal test sessions granted to the tyre manufacturer, did not function as they should have. So, either conditions were intermediate with light rain, or the cars remained stationary in the pits. Whether it was free practice, qualifying or racing, the FIA's decision has always been the same, especially in 2024 and 2025.
One of the major problems Pirelli has experienced in recent years has been the following: the lack of a reasonable amount of evidence has led to them being forced to resort to using an artificially wet track to study certain specifications. With all the consequences that come with it. Wetting the circuit, in the first place, costs. Then it doesn't give back the sensations of the actual rain. The track dries quickly in the presence of the sun and you don't even have time to complete an adequate number of laps with the Wets.
The teams missed a first chance
The arrival of rain in Barcelona should have given the teams a good opportunity to test the new tyres and give concrete feedback to Pirelli. Opportunity exploited only by Ferrari and Red Bull.
Waiting for good weather to better understand the potential of your project is certainly a respectable point of view. So we understand the decision of the teams who kept the cars in place inside their garage. The 2026 cars, which no longer have a Venturi-style platform, are expected to generate less spray than the 2022 cars, but judging by the shots from Barcelona, it doesn't look like such a drastic reduction.
Surely everyone will be at the FIA tables complaining if there are any safety issues related to running in the wet. But ultimately, who actually contributed when there was an opportunity to collect data and provide feedback to Pirelli? Largely just Ferrari and Red Bull. At least for now.
Cover photo: X, Formula1 (description: Charles Leclerc in the wet in the Barcelona tests, Day2, in the Ferrari SF-26)
Internal photo: X, Red Bull (description: Max Verstappen spins in the wet in the Barcelona tests, Day-2, in the Red Bull RB22)
Read also in italian language: Tutti si lamentano delle Full Wet, ma poi solo Ferrari e Red Bull girano sul bagnato
