Pirelli announces tyre compounds for 2026 F1 races as Sepang re‑joins calendar
Pirelli has released its tyre‑compound selections for three European rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season. For the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort the supplier will provide the intermediate range C2 (hard), C3 (medium) and C4 (soft). At the high‑speed Italian Grand Prix in Monza the tyre list shifts to the softer trio C3, C4 and C5. The new street circuit in Madrid will also use a harder compound mix, reflecting the need for durability on the novel layout.
Separately, Pirelli is preparing to return to the Sepang circuit in Malaysia after a nine‑year absence. The company will base its choices on data gathered during its 2017 visit and plans to run medium, soft and supersoft compounds (equivalent to C2‑C3‑C4). Because of the tight timeline, tyres will be shipped by air and spare sets may be produced for later races.
The FIA and Formula 1 announced that Sepang will re‑enter the 2026 calendar, holding a Grand Prix from 2 to 4 October between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds. The change compensates for ongoing security concerns surrounding the Bahrain event. Sepang, long sponsored by Malaysia’s oil company Petronas, also supplies the title sponsor for the Mercedes team, which currently leads the drivers’ championship.
Entities: FIA · Mercedes F1 Team · Petronas · Pirelli · Sepang International Circuit
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Sepang will return to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, hosting a Grand Prix from 2 to 4 October. (article 3)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mercedes leads the 2026 drivers' championship with Kimi Antonelli ahead of Lewis Hamilton. (article 3)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pirelli will use medium, soft and supersoft tyre compounds (equivalent to C2‑C3‑C4) for the Sepang Grand Prix. (article 2)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pirelli selected C2, C3 and C4 tyre compounds for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. (article 1)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Petronas sponsors both the Sepang circuit and the Mercedes Formula 1 team. (article 3)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pirelli's Sepang tyre preparation relies on data from its 2017 visit to Malaysia. (article 2)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Sepang round fills a slot between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix due to security concerns in Bahrain. (article 3)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pirelli selected C3, C4 and C5 tyre compounds for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. (article 1)