Pirelli’s 2026 F1 Tires Spark Heated Debate in the Paddock

F1 teams are split over Pirelli’s 2026 tires, with the FIA mediating. Disagreements mount as testing divides opinions on performance and strategy.

Will Pirelli ultimately retain its current, wider tires for next season instead of the narrower ones planned for 2026?

The debate is raging behind the scenes between the FIA, the teams, and the tire manufacturer. But complicating matters further is the fact that drivers are divided, among those who have tested them in private sessions (as seen in photos).

Charles Leclerc, for instance, does not share George Russell’s criticism of Pirelli’s proposed narrower 2026 tires.

Max Verstappen recently declined to give his opinion on the performance of the smaller, lighter tires, simply stating that they are “round.”

Mercedes F1 is reportedly pushing for the narrower dimensions to be scrapped, with Russell asserting: “They are clearly worse overall, there’s no doubt about it.”

However, Leclerc and Ferrari have also tested the 2026 development tires and hold a different view.

“When you test smaller tires, you expect a big difference. But for me, it went well, and I didn’t really notice a major change. I was pleasantly surprised.”

McLaren’s Lando Norris echoed this sentiment, stating that the 2026 Pirellis “worked well.”

Ferrari has also confirmed it has begun its 2026 aerodynamic studies, as well as optimizing its power unit’s energy deployment, to account for the reduced aerodynamic drag of the narrower tires.

McLaren supports Ferrari’s position, and Red Bull does too—unsurprisingly, given that with an all-new engine and energy deployment set to be critical, having narrower tires to drive could be an advantage.

On another topic, in 2025, Pirelli will introduce an all-new “super soft” compound called C6, which, according to the Italian brand’s F1 boss, Mario Isola, will make several appearances this season.

“We want to be a bit more aggressive in our compound selection and bring the C4, C5, and C6 combination to multiple race weekends.”

Previously, the C5 was the softest compound available.

“We aim to use the C6 at four or five races, not just in Monaco. Everyone always talks about Monaco, but we won’t solve Monaco’s issues with the C6. The F1 Commission has already decided we will try two mandatory stops there.”

He revealed that the C6 compound will make its Grand Prix debut before Monaco.

“I think we will confirm the first use of the C6 at Imola. Then in Montreal. After that, we’ll see how it goes. These are two representative circuits.”

“If everything goes well, we will likely see the C6 in Singapore and Las Vegas as well. With Monaco, that would make five races.”