Pirelli confirm 2026 tyre compounds as F1 gets set for a new era of regulations
Pirelli have announced which tyre compounds the teams will have to race with in 2026.
Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli have confirmed which tyres they are going to supply to the 11 F1 teams in the grid next season, as the sport gets set to move into a new era of racing.
This season, Pirelli gave the teams three compounds per race from their range of six different tyres, along with the intermediate and full wet weather options.
That model continues in 2026, but Pirelli will be choosing three compounds from the C1 through to the C5 rubber – with no C6 tyre option next season.
The last tyre test came in Mexico City just a few weeks ago, and saw the teams handed some extra compounds during the first practice session of the weekend. Pirelli have analysed this data to come up with their choices for 2026, with approval from the FIA.
Cars will run slightly narrower 18-inch tyres in 2026 compared to the current crop of vehicles. But Pirelli declared themselves satisfied that they had a good range of rubber for next season, which is set to feature 24 race weekends once again.
Pirelli’s statement read:
“Tyre development was carried out on the basis of forecast data as supplied by the teams, using simulations referring to loads and speeds predicted for the end of the 2026 season, while pursuing objectives similar to those of this year.
“The models were validated based on the results of development track testing with mule cars modified to reproduce the characteristics of the next generation of cars.”
The C6 tyre was used this season at Imola, Monaco, Canada and Azerbaijan. But Pirelli felt there was not enough delta between that compound and the C5 tyre to justify its inclusion in 2026.
The tyres will be tested once more in Abu Dhabi, on December 9. The test will be conducted by the current drivers, while the young driver test will feature the 2025 tyres on the current cars.
There are then three lots of pre-season testing for the teams to further understand the new compounds, before the first race of the season in Australia, on March 8.
