Pirelli, the present official tire provider for , has confirmed a major change to its tire lineup for the 2026 season: the softest dry-tire compound, the C6 slick, shall be faraway from the roster. As a substitute, groups will solely have 5 dry compounds (C1 via C5) obtainable subsequent 12 months.
Beneath the plan permitted by the FIA, tire improvement concluded on September 1, and remaining testing was accomplished with mule automobiles after the 2025 Mexico Grand Prix.
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The choice to drop the C6 compound got here as a result of Pirelli couldn’t meet the required efficiency hole between the softest and next-softest tyres. Take a look at information confirmed the efficiency distinction between the C5 and the C6 prototypes was too small to justify protecting the additional smooth tyre, providing no “vital efficiency benefit.”
Pirelli Method 1 tire compounds are on show in the course of the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. Photograph by Wan Mikhail Roslan/NurPhoto through Getty Photographs
“Specific consideration has been paid to efficiency variations between the compounds when it comes to lap time, in order to make sure a large and constant delta between them, to ship extra technique choices,” Pirelli on its official web site.
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“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 unimaginable to satisfy this delta requirement,” Pirelli added.
Different Modifications, Extra Testing, and What This Means for Groups and Technique
Moreover the variety of tires, the tires themselves will change in measurement. From 2026 onward, the entrance tires shall be 25 mm narrower and the rear tires 30 mm narrower than the present tires, adapting to rules for brand spanking new 18-inch wheels.
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By lowering the dry-tire vary to 5 compounds (C1–C5), Pirelli goals to protect strategic range whereas avoiding overly clustered efficiency gaps that would make tire choice redundant.
Purple Bull mechanics carry Pirelli tires and wheels within the pit lane after engaged on a pit cease in the course of the 2025 F1 Grand Prix of Miami. Photograph by Mark Thompson/Getty Photographs
For groups and drivers, this implies race weekend setups and techniques will possible shift. With no ultra-soft compound, qualifying and race simulations should adapt, doubtlessly making tire put on, degradation charges, and stint size extra vital elements than ever.
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Lastly, Pirelli plans a remaining group testing session on December 9 in Abu Dhabi, the place groups will take a look at compounds C2 to C5 (plus intermediates for moist situations) utilizing modified mule automobiles.
This story was initially printed by on Nov 26, 2025, the place it first appeared within the part. Add Athlon Sports activities as a
