For the 2026 Formula 1 season, Pirelli remains the official sole tyre supplier, bringing a refined compound range and updated sidewall design tailored for the new, lighter 2026 car regulations.
Tyre Colours & Markings
Pirelli uses a simplified three-colour system on race weekends to denote relative hardness:
| Tyre Type | Sidewall Colour | Description |
| Hard | ⚪ White | Most durable slick tyre, built for longer stints and high thermal resistance. |
| Medium | 🟡 Yellow | Balanced slick tyre offering a mix of longevity and performance. |
| Soft | 🔴 Red | Fastest slick tyre with maximum mechanical grip, but higher degradation. |
| Intermediate | 🟢 Green | Treaded wet tyre for damp tracks or light-to-moderate rain. |
| Full Wet | 🔵 Blue | Heavy-treaded wet tyre designed to evacuate standing water. |
2026 Visual Update: The sidewalls feature an updated branding design integrating a chequered flag motif into the classic P Zero logo.
2026 Tyre Compounds (C1 – C5)
Out of a total range of five dry compounds, Pirelli nominates three compounds for each Grand Prix weekend (which are then labelled Hard, Medium, and Soft for that specific race):
- C1 (Hardest): Designed for extreme loads, severe track abrasion, and high heat resistance.
- C2: Suited for high-energy circuits and fast cornering forces.
- C3 (Versatile): The middle-ground compound used at almost every circuit type.
- C4: Fast warm-up, ideal for low-severity circuits.
- C5 (Softest): Provides peak speed and maximum grip for slow, low-wear street or smooth asphalt circuits.
Key Changes for 2026
- Narrower Dimensions: While maintaining the 18-inch wheel rim size, the 2026 tyres are slightly narrower compared to previous years to align with the active aerodynamics and reduced overall drag of the 2026 cars.
- Dropped C6 Compound: The C6 compound tested previously was dropped for 2026, narrowing the dry lineup to five distinct compounds with wider performance gaps to encourage varied race strategies.