Pirelli confirms C3-C4-C5 tyre range for Singapore as Sprint weekend debuts

Pirelli names compounds for Marina Bay

After Max Verstappen clinched his first victory of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Formula 1 field turns to Singapore’s Marina Bay Circuit for Round 17, with tyre supplier Pirelli confirming the compounds selected for the weekend.

For 2026 the three softest options in the Pirelli range have been nominated, identical to last year’s Grand Prix: C3 as the Hard, C4 as the Medium and C5 as the Soft.

Sprint format changes allocation

Singapore will host the Sprint for the first time, which changes tyre management for the weekend. Teams will have only 12 sets of dry tyres available for the whole event rather than the usual 13.

Under Sprint regulations the allocation is two sets of Hard, four sets of Medium and six sets of Soft, plus six sets of green intermediates and three sets of blue full wets.

Track characteristics and strategy outlook

Pirelli’s weekend preview notes the 4.940-kilometre street circuit features barriers close to the racing line and limited overtaking opportunities.

"The 4.940-kilometre track features the typical characteristics of a street circuit, with barriers close to the racing line and limited overtaking opportunities. However, the changes introduced in 2023 to the third sector increased the number of high-speed sections, making the lap smoother and faster than in the past. Despite the presence of some straights, the circuit remains defined by numerous braking and traction phases thanks to its 19 corners, allowing modern power units to recover energy throughout the lap."

Marina Bay has a medium-to-high level of surface roughness for a street circuit in both macro- and micro-roughness. With no resurfacing work carried out, values are expected to be broadly in line with last season’s, if not slightly higher, and track evolution will be significant over the course of the weekend.

Intermittent rainfall typical of the equatorial climate will also influence grip levels and can alter conditions from one session to the next. The race takes place at night with track temperatures ranging between 30 and 35C. Under those conditions the tyres tend to operate within their working window without particular overheating concerns.

Mechanical stress is not especially high and expected degradation will mainly be linked to the normal performance drop-off of the rear axle during traction phases. Graining and wear are not expected to become limiting factors in race management.

One-stop preference, Soft in play

From a strategic perspective Singapore remains one of the races in which a one-stop strategy is the preferred option, also considering time lost in the pit lane and the frequent likelihood of neutralisations.

While Hard and Medium are once again expected to be the reference compounds for the race, Pirelli notes this year the Soft could receive greater consideration on Sunday from more than one team.

"The softest compound in the range has demonstrated at Budapest, Monza and Baku, where it was used, that it allows drivers to maintain a strong pace thanks to limited degradation, while also offering an advantage in terms of grip and confidence behind the wheel. These characteristics could prove even more valuable on a circuit such as Singapore, which is also known for its significant track evolution."

The supplier adds that latest-generation cars appear to make better use of softer compounds. Aerodynamic load, more effective temperature management and the formulation of the current compounds allow the softer end of the range to be used for longer and more competitive stints than in the past.

"With this in mind, it would come as no surprise to see the red-sidewalled tyre used in Saturday’s Sprint or, more generally, to witness more extensive use of the C5 throughout the weekend, encouraged by the Sprint format itself," Pirelli said.

More information about Pirelli’s F1 tyres is available at pirelli.com.