Pirelli has confirmed the Formula 1 tyre compounds for Baku, Sepang and Singapore, the three races that will form a triple-header stretching from late September into early October. The two street circuits will receive the softest trio in Pirelli’s 2026 range, while a more conservative intermediate selection has been chosen for Formula 1’s return to Malaysia.
With the dates for the final phase of the Formula 1 World Championship still being clarified, Pirelli has now officially informed the teams of its compound selections for the three consecutive race weekends. The sequence will begin with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late September, continue with the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang and conclude with the Singapore Grand Prix in early October.
Pirelli chooses softest F1 tyre compounds for Baku and Singapore
For both Baku and Singapore, Pirelli has selected the softest three compounds in its range: the C3 will be designated as the Hard, the C4 as the Medium and the C5 as the Soft.
Both events take place on street circuits, although their characteristics are very different. The Baku City Circuit combines slow, technical sections with an exceptionally long flat-out stretch, while Singapore provides another demanding urban challenge later in the triple-header.
Sepang gets intermediate Pirelli tyre range for Bahrain GP in Malaysia
For the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be held at the Sepang International Circuit from 2 to 4 October, Pirelli will instead use its intermediate range of C2, C3 and C4 compounds. The Malaysian circuit places a medium level of stress on the tyres compared with the scale Pirelli uses to assess all the venues on the Formula 1 calendar.
The asphalt in Kuala Lumpur is particularly abrasive and has not been resurfaced since Formula 1 last raced there in 2017. Rather than selecting the hardest available compounds, Pirelli has opted for the C2-C4 range in an effort to reduce the lap-time difference between one-stop and two-stop strategies.
The intention is to create a wider range of viable tactical options during the race, potentially making tyre management and the timing of pit stops more influential at a circuit Formula 1 has not visited for almost a decade.
Triple-header adds another strategic challenge for F1 teams
The three events will therefore present teams with distinctly different tyre demands in quick succession. Baku and Singapore will use the C3, C4 and C5 compounds, while Sepang moves one step towards the harder end of the range with C2, C3 and C4.
The unusual Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia also forms part of the revised 2026 Formula 1 calendar, with Sepang hosting the event between Azerbaijan and Singapore. For Ferrari and its rivals, understanding how each compound behaves across three very different circuits will add another important variable to an already demanding late-season sequence.
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