This year, the Milan-based tire manufacturer Pirelli introduced the new C6 compound, which is the softest tire in its entire Formula 1 range. This tire was specifically designed for city circuits and tracks with low tire degradation. After extensive testing during the first part of the 2025 season, Pirelli has decided to adjust its plans: the C6 will not be used at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, while for 2026, the company is planning significant modifications to make it easier for teams to exploit its full potential.
One of the key innovations in 2025 on the tire front was the introduction of the C6, Pirelli’s softest compound, intended for races on street circuits or circuits where the tires are subjected to low energy loads. This softer option allows race organizers and teams to push allocations toward more aggressive, soft strategies, increasing tactical flexibility.
Throughout this championship, Pirelli has generally aimed to bring softer compounds whenever possible, with the goal of opening the door to multiple strategic approaches. This approach reintroduced the possibility of two-stop races, particularly on tracks where last year teams were confident they could complete the race with a single pit stop. The introduction of the C6 was aligned precisely with this strategy, especially for city circuits that are less demanding on tires.
However, Pirelli chose to take a bold approach by bringing the C6 to Imola, a track that was originally not considered suitable for the softest compound. Imola, however, represented an excellent testing ground to assess the limits and potential benefits of the new compound on a circuit where races would otherwise likely be completed with a single pit stop.
It is also important to note that beyond the introduction of the C6, Pirelli opted for softer compounds in general for race conditions, with the C5 and C4 playing a prominent role on Sundays. This decision added a strategic element, as some teams indeed chose to vary their pit stop strategies between one and two stops. In qualifying, however, the C6 proved, as expected, to be an extreme choice.
Several drivers struggled to extract maximum grip from the softest tire over a single lap, leading some to prefer the medium compound even in qualifying sessions. This issue recurred in Canada, where the pole position was not secured on the soft tire. Based on data collected so far, Pirelli has decided that the C6 will only appear at one more race during the remainder of the season, specifically at the Baku Grand Prix.
Change of plans for Las Vegas: why the C6 won’t be used
The C6 will not be deployed on the street circuits of Singapore and Las Vegas. For these events, Pirelli has instead selected the C3-C4-C5 combination, identical to last year’s allocation. The decision not to bring the C6 to Singapore is unsurprising, as the Marina Bay track is aggressive on tires under traction, offering limited benefit for the softest compound due to overheating risks.
The reasoning behind excluding the C6 from Las Vegas, however, involves a more detailed analysis. Initially, Pirelli had considered the U.S. venue among potential tracks to test the C6, given that Las Vegas is relatively gentle on tires. However, after reviewing the data from the first part of the season, the company decided to step back due to graining issues.
Simone Berra, Pirelli’s Chief Engineer, explained: “For Las Vegas, we decided to maintain the same allocation as last year [C3-C4-C5]. Our initial idea was to bring the C6, but based on analysis from the first part of the season, during the weekends we used it, we believe the C6 may experience more graining at Las Vegas.”
He added, “It would not provide any additional interest for the race, which was already expected to be a one- or two-stop event. In recent years, Las Vegas races have been exciting, so there was no need to introduce the C6. Even last year, if not managed correctly, the C5 showed signs of graining, so a softer compound could have worsened the issue.”
Berra further clarified, “If the track conditions were more favorable in terms of grip and generated less graining, the C6 could perform very well, as temperatures are relatively low and its operating window fits these conditions. However, the presence of sand and dust makes the circuit dirty, and there is no reason to risk high wear or severe graining.”
For 2026, the C6 will be redesigned to be easier to use
Behind the scenes, Pirelli has been actively developing the 2026 tires for some time, conducting tests in collaboration with the Formula 1 teams. After finalizing the chassis construction to be homologated, the Milanese company is now focusing entirely on the compounds themselves. There are still several months to refine the tires before submitting final data to the FIA.
A key part of this work will be improving the C6, which will feature modifications compared to this year’s version. The goal is to make it faster by a few tenths of a second while ensuring it is easier for teams to extract consistent performance. The compound’s ability to improve grip has never been in question, but the challenge remains how to maintain it throughout an entire lap.
Simone Berra stated: “We are working to retain the C6 in the 2026 range. The objective is to avoid a C6 like this year’s version, which is difficult to maximize. We want a true lap-time advantage over the C5, but with a tire that is simpler to manage and still suitable for low-degradation circuits. Once we validate a C6, Monaco will certainly be the main candidate for its use. At the moment, we are not focusing on a specific race but rather on degradation objectives.”
The overarching idea is to widen the operating window while, as Mario Isola indicated before the British Grand Prix, also increasing the performance delta compared to the C5. Currently, this delta is slightly over two tenths of a second per lap, with the target being to reach at least half a second.
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