Pirelli has finalised its 5 tyre compounds for the 2026 F1 season, deciding towards brining its sixth additional mushy compound that was launched this yr.
The Italian producer has been engaged on a variety of tyres for the 2026 rules, which prescribe entrance tyres which are 25mm narrower than the present specification, whereas the rears might be made 30mm narrower, in an effort to assist save general weight on the 18-inch tyres.
After finalising its tyre constructions by its 1 September deadline, Pirelli accomplished its final in-season check after the Mexico Grand Prix to additional collect information on its tyre compounds, which must be homologated by 15 December.
It has now introduced a plan to convey 5 compounds to 2026 as an alternative if six, abandoning the softest C6 compound that was used sporadically in 2025, primarily on low-impact avenue circuits.
The reason being that Pirelli was eager to make sure its 5 compounds throughout the vary could be completely different sufficient by way of put on and lap time delta to make sure loads of strategic choices. This season compounds just like the C2 and C3 had been very comparable in lap time, that means that at some races Pirelli determined to skip a compound, for instance by bringing the C1, C3 and C4 at Spa and Austin.
By spacing out the vary of compounds additional, it was felt that the 2026 C6 compound could be too near the C5.
Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar testing 2026 Pirelli tyres in Monza
Photograph by: Pirelli
“The vary of dry tyres will consist of 5 compounds from the toughest C1 to the softest C5, all with comparable positioning to the present one and an method to thermal degradation aimed toward permitting for quite a lot of decisions throughout the various completely different traits to be discovered on the circuits on the world championship calendar,” Pirelli said.
“Explicit consideration has been paid to efficiency variations between the compounds by way of lap time, in order to make sure a large and constant delta between them, to ship extra technique choices. “The choice to not validate the sixth and softest compound, the C6, which is within the vary for the present season, was taken exactly as a result of it was not possible to satisfy this delta requirement. The newest exams confirmed that the time hole between the C5 and C6 prototypes was too small in comparison with the others, with out providing any important efficiency benefit.”
Groups will get to make use of the brand new tyre vary on the Abu Dhabi post-season check on 9 December, apart from the C1 which is simply too exhausting for Yas Marina, with one automobile per workforce devoted to tyre testing whereas the opposite vehicles might be taken up by a rookie driver.
For the tyre check the ten groups will shed wing ranges on their “mule vehicles” to try to simulate the decrease downforce ranges from the 2026 equipment, with the drastic regulation adjustments for subsequent yr having difficult Pirelli’s tyre improvement.
As a substitute of having the ability to check consultant vehicles, it has needed to depend on simulation information from the groups, as they’ve been discovering speedy positive factors in digital and wind tunnel testing since beginning aerodynamic improvement again in January.
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