To boost the relationship between F1 technology and road cars, tyre size grew from 26.4 inches (13-inch wheel rims) to 28.3 inches (18-inch rims) for the arrival of ground effect in 2022.
This followed the 2017 move to 'wide cars', which marked the introduction of a 2.4-inch wider front tyre and a 3.15-inch growth for the rears compared to the previous 2010-16 generation.
However, the bigger rubber contributes to a new minimum car weight limit of 798kg. This bulk led to driver complaints that the machinery is lazy and understeers. In turn, the slow-speed handling has partly offset the desired overtaking gains brought by the regulatory overhaul.
As such, Pirelli - which signed an F1 contract extension to exclusively supply tyres until 2027, with an option for a further season - is anticipating a design brief to return to smaller rubber.
Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola told select media, including Autosport: "[In] 2026, we have a completely new car, probably a new tyre size.
"[Smaller, lighter tyres], it's possible. It's not defined yet, but the target is not a secret: that is to design lighter cars, more agile cars and tyres are a part of the weight of the car.
"So, it can be that we have to supply smaller tyres. If we have to supply smaller tyres as we did in the past, we will change again in 2026.
"It's part of our agreement with Formula 1 to follow the request of the stakeholders to design a tyre that is always in line with the target defined by all the stakeholders."
Source: Autosport