F1 qualifying: how tyre blankets could influence lap performance in 2026. In Formula 1, tyre blankets remain a key factor for the perfect qualifying lap.

It’s not just about the double warm-up lap: even in the new era of Formula 1, teams will continue to manage tyre blanket temperatures to ensure tyres are in the optimal operating window. This is particularly important for achieving the best balance between the front and rear axles, especially on street circuits.

Tyres were not a central topic during the Bahrain pre-season tests, but they will become crucial in just over two weeks when the 2026 season kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park.

From the very first race of the year, one major factor will come into play: balancing temperatures between the front and rear tyres. Albert Park is a street-style track, and most circuits of this type do not generate extreme tyre loads. As a result, teams are expected to focus on tyre preparation, whether by completing two laps to bring tyres into the correct operating window for the flying lap, or by carefully managing the temperatures of the tyre blankets.

Pirelli’s regulations recommend placing dry tyres in blankets at 70°C for up to two hours (wet tyres should be kept at 60°C for the same duration). However, teams may choose to lower the blanket temperature heating the rear tyres. “I’m still convinced that doing a double preparation lap (outlap plus flying lap) is an option, but there’s another one on the table,” explained Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport. “When we provide teams with guidelines, these concern the blankets and the maximum temperature they can use.”

“I cannot rule out that, to balance front and rear, someone might try lowering the rear blanket temperature to better equalise both ends. Teams are experimenting and testing different solutions, so the flying lap plus preparation lap is one option, but adjusting blanket temperatures is another possibility.”

During the Bahrain tests, some teams experimented with different blanket temperatures for the front and rear axles to achieve better tyre balance, simulating what they might face during the first race weekend and, indeed, on nearly all the street circuits on the 2026 calendar.

However, this is not entirely new. In previous seasons, teams adopted similar strategies during hotter races to prevent overheating the rear tyres and pushing them beyond their optimal window. This year, the higher traction capacity of the cars, thanks to the 350 kW MGU-K (almost 500 horsepower), will be an additional factor, alongside the stresses induced by active aerodynamics on the straights.