Pirelli Reveals Tyre Allocations for 2026 Barcelona Pre-Season Test

Pirelli has unveiled the tyre selections for all 11 teams ahead of the five-day pre-season test at Barcelona. The selections reveal distinct strategic approaches, with several teams heavily favoring the C3 Soft compound while others opt for a more balanced spread across the C1, C2, and C3 range to evaluate the new 2026 machinery.

Why it matters:

With the 2026 regulations introducing massive changes to the power unit and aerodynamics, gathering reliable tyre data is paramount. These choices offer the first glimpse into how teams prioritize their running, whether focusing on short-run performance for qualifying simulations or long-run consistency for race pace assessment on the updated Barcelona tarmac.

The details:

The allocations for the slick tyres—C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), and C3 (Soft)—vary significantly across the grid:

• Soft Compound Focus: Red Bull and Williams are taking an aggressive approach, requesting 18 and 17 sets of Softs respectively. Racing Bulls and Haas also lean heavily towards the red-banded tyre, indicating a focus on peak performance and qualifying pace data.
• Mercedes' Unique Split: Mercedes stands out with a bimodal strategy, taking 12 sets of Softs and 8 sets of Hards but zero Mediums. This suggests a desire to test the extremes of the tyre spectrum immediately.
• Balanced Approach: Ferrari and Aston Martin appear to favor a more traditional setup, with Ferrari selecting 12 sets of Mediums and Aston Martin taking 10.
• Weather Preparedness: Audi seems most cautious about potential rain, requesting three sets of Wet tyres compared to the standard one or two sets chosen by most other teams.

What's next:

Teams will hit the track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for five days of running starting soon. These tyre choices will play a critical role in defining the initial pecking order as the 2026 era officially kicks off.