
Pirelli has officially confirmed the tyre compounds for the first two races scheduled in May, marking the restart of the Formula 1 season following the enforced one-month break caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Italian supplier has opted for the softest compounds in its range for the upcoming race weekends, both of which will feature the Sprint format, at Miami and Montreal. On both the Florida street circuit and the track located in the Canadian city, the selected tyres will be the C3, C4 and C5, designated respectively as Hard, Medium and Soft.
The first American race of the season (May 1–3) will take place on the circuit built around the Dolphins stadium, a layout characterised by very smooth asphalt that allows teams to exploit the softer end of the Formula 1 tyre range.
Tyre degradation is expected to be primarily thermal, due to the high temperatures typical of Florida. However, last year—when the compounds were nominally the same—degradation remained relatively limited. This created the conditions for several on-track battles in the early stages of the race, as drivers were able to push without significant constraints.
In Canada (May 22–24), the softest selection will also be used, thanks to a circuit surface that is not particularly abrasive and to ensure sufficient grip in areas where the cars are subjected to heavy braking zones.
Last year, when the tyre range extended up to the C6 compound, the trio used on track included that option, although the Soft tyre at the time played only a marginal role in race strategies. Teams largely opted for two-stop strategies relying on Hard and Medium compounds. Compared to Miami, Montreal also introduces the added variable of weather conditions, especially considering the earlier slot in the calendar for this year’s event.
The decision to bring the softest available compounds to both Miami and Montreal highlights Pirelli’s commitment to encouraging aggressive racing as the season resumes. With both events operating under the Sprint format, teams will have limited practice time to dial in their setups, making tire management a decisive factor in what promises to be a high-stakes return to the track.







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