Pirelli Drops C6: Only Five Dry Tyre Compounds for 2026 Formula 1 Season

Short Excerpt: Pirelli has finalized its F1 2026 tyre compound selection: the softest C6 will not return, leaving teams with five dry options and an emphasis on clearer performance gaps for better racing strategies.

Pirelli has officially set its range of dry tyre compounds for the 2026 Formula 1 season, with the softest prototype, the C6, being dropped. This means only five dry compounds—C1 through C5—will be available, marking an end to the six-compound approach seen in 2025. The change, confirmed after extensive winter testing and analysis in Mexico City, aligns with the incoming 2026 technical regulations and aims to provide clearer grip differences for improved race strategy.

2026 tyre range: C1-C5 active, C6 (faded) dropped

C6 Dropped After Underwhelming Performance Gap

The decision to abandon the C6 was made due to one key issue: the performance advantage of the C6 over the existing C5 was minimal. Initial hopes were that a sixth, ultra-soft compound would add more strategic excitement on low-energy street circuits, but recent tests showed the time delta between the two softest tyres was too small. Pirelli’s press release made it clear:

« The decision not to validate the sixth and softest compound, the C6, was taken precisely because it was impossible to meet the desired performance 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. »

What the 2026 Tyre Range Looks Like

Performance Target: Larger Gaps, More Strategic Variety

Pirelli’s main objective was to ensure a wider and more consistent lap time gap (« delta ») between each tyre type:

• The goal: encourage teams to experiment with race strategy rather than defaulting to similar approaches
• Compounds that didn’t consistently provide a clear performance separation, like the C6, were rejected for 2026

Pirelli also finalized new, slightly narrower tyres to fit the revised 2026 chassis, but 18-inch wheels remain standard.

Final Test and Sign-Off

The 2026 compounds will undergo a last group test in Abu Dhabi, where race drivers will try C2 to C5 compounds on 2025 cars adapted to replicate expected 2026 downforce and load. Intermediates and wets will be supplied for wet conditions, but the finalized selection—and a detailed understanding of their characteristics—will be completed before the 15 December FIA homologation deadline.

What It Means for the Grid

Conclusion

By scrapping the C6 and sticking to five distinct dry tyre compounds for 2026, Pirelli has doubled down on the goal of enhancing tactical variety and avoiding performance overlap. Teams will continue to face the challenge of maximizing tyre life and performance as F1 transitions to its biggest technical shake-up in years.