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Pirelli has set the range of
compounds for the 2026 Formula 1 season. After completing an analysis
following the last test session in Mexico City, the Italian company, with
the approval of the FIA, has established which compounds will be homologated
on 15 December, as stipulated in the technical regulations.
As for
tyre construction, that was finalised on 1st September, after a careful
evaluation of the balance across the axles, taking into account the active
aerodynamics that will be introduced next year.
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.
That was a complicating factor during testing, stemming from
the fact that tyres could not be tested on actual 2026 cars, which will run
slightly narrower 18 inch tyres than the current ones.
The range of
dry tyres will consist of five compounds from the hardest C1 to the softest
C5, all with similar positioning to the current one and an approach to
thermal degradation aimed at allowing for a variety of choices across the
many different characteristics to be found at the circuits on the world
championship calendar.
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.
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. The most recent
tests showed that the time gap between the C5 and C6 prototypes was too
small compared to the others, without offering any significant performance
advantage. |
