Pirelli reveals tyre choices for first three races of 2026 F1 season
Fans now know exactly what rubber their favorite F1 teams will be racing on when the 2026 season kicks off next March.
Pirelli has just announced the tyre compounds teams will use for the first three Grand Prix weekends of the season.
The Italian tyre maker’s selection gives us an early glimpse into how teams might approach strategy when F1’s massive rule changes take effect in 2026.
Melbourne’s season opener from March 6-8 will feature Pirelli’s softest options. Teams will have the C3, C4, and C5 compounds available as they tackle Albert Park’s smooth surface.
Just a week later, drivers will face a different challenge in Shanghai.
For the Chinese Grand Prix (March 13-16), Pirelli has opted for slightly harder tyres – the C2, C3, and C4 compounds. This middle-of-the-range selection accounts for Shanghai’s unique mix of high-speed corners and long straights that really punish the tyres.
Japan’s Suzuka circuit will see the hardest combination of the early season. The technically demanding track will get the C1, C2, and C3 compounds when F1 arrives for the third race of 2026.
This makes perfect sense given Suzuka’s reputation for being incredibly tough on tyres, with its relentless high-speed corners and abrasive surface.
Teams will get their first chance to test these new tyres during three pre-season sessions. They’ll hit Barcelona from January 26-30, followed by two Bahrain tests (February 11-13 and 18-20) before heading to Australia for the real thing.
The 2026 tyre lineup comes with one notable change – Pirelli has dropped the C6 compound completely.
This ultra-soft option had become a sore point for several drivers, including three-time world champion Max Verstappen, who complained it wasn’t delivering the performance benefits it was supposed to.
Looks like Pirelli actually listened to the drivers for once!
With major technical regulations changing for 2026 – including completely new power units and aerodynamic packages – how teams manage their tyres could be even more crucial than in previous seasons.
