Pirelli Announces Major Race Decision for 2026 F1 Season

"Particular attention has been paid to performance differences between the compounds in terms of lap time, so as to ensure a wide and consistent delta between them, to deliver more strategy options," Pirelli stated in its statement on its official website.

"The decision not to validate the sixth and softest compound, the C6, which is in the range for the current season, was taken precisely because it was impossible to meet this delta requirement," Pirelli added.

Other Changes, More Testing, and What This Means for Teams and Strategy

Besides the number of tires, the tires themselves will change in size. From 2026 onward, the front tires will be 25 mm narrower and the rear tires 30 mm narrower than the current tires, adapting to regulations for new 18-inch wheels.

By reducing the dry-tire range to five compounds (C1–C5), Pirelli aims to preserve strategic diversity while avoiding overly clustered performance gaps that could make tire selection redundant.  

For teams and drivers, this means race weekend setups and strategies will likely shift. With no ultra-soft compound, qualifying and race simulations must adapt, potentially making tire wear, degradation rates, and stint length more critical factors than ever.

Lastly, Pirelli plans a final group testing session on December 9 in Abu Dhabi, where teams will test compounds C2 to C5 (plus intermediates for wet scenarios) using modified mule cars.