Tyres and Pit Stops

Every team uses tyres from the same supplier, Pirelli. For 2026 Pirelli has five dry compounds, from hard to soft: C1 to C5. For each race weekend it picks three of them to suit the circuit.

The hardest of the three is called Hard (white) that weekend, the middle one Medium (yellow) and the softest Soft (red). So the "soft" tyre at one track can be the same compound as the "medium" at another.

The tyres are narrower in 2026: 25 mm at the front and 30 mm at the rear. The rim size stays at 18 inches.

• In a dry race every driver must use at least two different dry compounds, which makes at least one pit stop almost unavoidable.
• If intermediate or wet tyres are used in the race, this requirement no longer applies.
• The number of tyre sets each driver can use over the weekend is limited, so teams try to save sets during practice.
• Tyres work best in a certain temperature window. A cold tyre has little grip, while an overheating tyre wears quickly.

During a pit stop the car enters the pit lane, drives to its garage within the speed limit and the crew changes all four tyres in a few seconds. A good stop takes 2–3 seconds, but driving through the pit lane costs around 20 seconds in total, depending on the circuit.

There is a speed limit in the pit lane: 80 km/h at most circuits, lower at some tight venues. Exceeding it brings a penalty. There is no refuelling during the race; stops are for tyres and, if needed, a new front wing.

• Undercut: pitting before your rival and setting fast laps on fresh tyres, aiming to be ahead when they pit a lap later.
• Overcut: staying out after your rival pits and using the clear track to set fast laps so you come out ahead after your own stop. It works at tracks where new tyres are slow to warm up.
• Safety car opportunity: under a safety car everyone is slower, so a pit stop costs less time. Teams try not to miss these moments.