Get ready, F1 fans, because big changes are coming your way in 2026! The iconic racing series is set to undergo a major transformation, not only in terms of chassis and engines but also in the world of tires. Brace yourselves as Pirelli is shaking things up with some groundbreaking updates for the 2026 season.
One of the most significant changes on the horizon is the introduction of smaller tires by Pirelli. Starting in 2026, front tires will be 25mm narrower, and rear tires will slim down by 30mm compared to the current sizes. This alteration will trim the total weight of the tires by approximately 1.6 kg, playing a crucial role in reducing the overall weight of the cars.
But that’s not all – Pirelli is not stopping at just resizing tires. The tire manufacturer is working on two game-changing developments for 2026 that are set to revolutionize the F1 racing experience.
First up is the revamp of the C6 compound to make it more aggressive. The C6 soft tire was introduced in 2025 for circuits with lower wear, but it has made unexpected appearances in more races to spice up the strategic variability. However, teams have struggled to effectively utilize it in qualifying, often opting for the slightly harder C5 compound, which is more familiar but offers similar performance. Pirelli aims to make the C6 more aggressive by increasing the performance gap – ideally by 0.5 seconds instead of the current 0.2 seconds. This move is designed to encourage its use in qualifying while maintaining manageable degradation for race strategy variation.
In addition to the compound adjustment, Pirelli is also set to redesign rain tires for enhanced usability during races, not just for safety car periods. Complaints about rain tires have been a common occurrence, with their very specific usage window. It’s a rare sight to see rain tires being used during a race, as drivers prefer to switch to intermediates as quickly as possible. The goal is to adjust the crossover point (where rain tires outperform intermediates) from the current 118% pace difference to 115–116%, making the tire more effective in race conditions despite visibility limitations.
Get ready for a thrilling and unpredictable F1 season in 2026, where these tire innovations are sure to shake up the competition like never before. Fans and teams alike will have to adapt to these changes, adding an extra layer of excitement to the world’s most prestigious racing series.
