F1's 2026 tyre revolution: narrower rubber, five slick compounds, and no C6

Formula 1 is bracing for what many are calling the biggest rule change in the sport's history, and the tyres beneath the cars will look and behave differently when the 2026 season fires into life.

A narrower, nimbler package

The 2026 season will feature the sport's biggest change in rules in years — if not ever — but cars will again run on 18-inch wheels. The front-tyre width will decrease by 25mm and the rear tyres by 30mm. This follows the rules refresh that has made cars smaller, nimbler and more environmentally friendly.

Italian manufacturer Pirelli, who have been the sole tyre provider for the sport since 2011, will continue to supply tyres until at least the end of the 2028 season.

How many tyres do teams get?

On a standard race weekend, drivers are given 13 sets of slick tyres, four sets of intermediates and three sets of full wet tyres. Drivers who reach the third round of qualifying receive an extra set of softs, and all drivers must use at least two different slick compounds during a dry race.

However, if there is a sprint race — a short, high-intensity race held on select Grand Prix weekends — there will be 12 sets of slick tyres allocated instead, along with five sets of intermediates and two sets of full wets.

The slick compounds explained

Slick tyres get their name from having a smooth surface without any tread pattern. They are the tyres used most often and feature five compounds, ranging from the hardest to the softest: C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5. Pirelli selects three compounds from this range for each race weekend, with the selection depending on possible strategies and the characteristics of each track.

That means the C3 could be the softest tyre at one event, while at another it could be the medium or hardest tyre in the selection. Each compound is defined by its colour: the softest is marked red, the medium yellow and the hard white.

The red softs provide the most grip but degrade quickly, while the white hard tyres last the longest but offer less grip and speed. Soft tyres are typically best for qualifying or short stints, with medium and hard tyres preferred for longer race runs.

When the rain comes

When the weather turns, drivers face the dilemma of whether to switch to intermediate or full wet tyres. Intermediates are used for damp but not fully soaked conditions and are colour-coded green. Full wet tyres are utilised during heavy rain and are coded blue, with grooves to help maintain traction.

The C6 is gone for 2026

The most notable change to the compound line-up is the disappearance of the C6. The C6 was the brand-new 'ultra-soft' tyre compound introduced in the 2025 season, made specifically for street-track racing and used at Imola, Monaco, Canada and Azerbaijan.

However, Pirelli has confirmed it will not be available for the 2026 season. The manufacturer said the time gap between the C6 and C5 was too small to justify its inclusion in the new season.

"Pirelli said the time gap between the C6 and C5 was too small to justify its inclusion in the new season."

This article draws on the latest explainer from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.