Pirelli, compounds chosen for Monaco and Barcelona

The first European races of 2026 Pirelli today communicated to the teams the selection of compounds for the weekends in the Principality of Monaco and Barcelona. The Monte Carlo track is the track with the lowest average speed of the entire calendar. The race winds through the streets of the city, on a very smooth asphalt which makes tire degradation almost zero. Overtaking is extremely difficult due to the very narrow roadways, where the precision of the drivers is essential to avoid impacts against the protective barriers. The softest trio of the range is therefore confirmed compared to previous years: C3 for the Hard, C4 for the Medium and C5 for the Soft. However, the selection for the weekend in Catalonia will be one step softer than last year. In fact, in Barcelona the C2 compounds will be used for the Hard, C3 for the Medium and C4 for the Soft. Unlike the previous race on the calendar, the Spanish racetrack is very harsh on the tires both due to its layout, with many fast corners and long journeys, and due to the temperatures which favor thermal degradation. With a more consistent range this year, the choice therefore has the aim of encouraging a greater number of stops in the race.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-19 19:14:00