Pirelli confirm compounds for last European races

Pirelli has confirmed the tyre compounds which will be in use during the final European races of the 2026 season, at the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grand Prix.

Feature image credit: Pirelli

Pirelli, ahead of F1’s annual summer break, has announced the tyre compounds which will be in use at the final three European races of the current season, the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grand Prix.

Whilst Pirelli can make better decisions on the first two races, the Dutch and Italian Grand Prix, using historical data and known factors to help inform their decision, the tyre manufacturer has had to rely on simulations for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.

Madrid’s race will mark the first Spanish Grand Prix at the new venue as it took over the event’s name from the iconic Barcelona-Catalunya, which became the name of its own grand prix, earlier in the year.

The Italian manufacturer has suggested the Madring’s semi-permanent street circuit, and its varied 22 corners; their data suggests the track will have loads similar to Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.

So, what are the tyre compounds for the upcoming three races?

Dutch Grand Prix

When F1 returns at the end of August to ignite the second half of the season, Pirelli are set to bring the mid-range tyre compounds to the final race in Zandvoort, following its announcement to step away from the calendar

The C2, C3 and C4 tyres will be brought to the seaside track, with the C2 taking place as the hard compound tyres, C3 the mediums and C4 the softs.

Additionally, this is set to be a sprint race weekend, so tyre allocation will be tighter than at the previous two races.

Italian Grand Prix –

In the following event, F1 will head to the iconic Italian track more commonly known as Monza. With it being a lower-downforce circuit, perhaps the lowest of the season.

As such, Pirelli are set to bring the softest tyres of their range with the C3, C4 and C5 tyres. The Dutch GP’s mediums (C3) will become the hard tyres, the C4 the medium and C5 will be the red-walled soft tyres.

Following the sprint race weekend in the Netherlands, F1 will return to a traditional grand prix format for the Italian Grand Prix.

Spanish Grand Prix-

The Madring will make its debut as the Spanish Grand Prix in this period, with a return to Spain after the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix earlier on in the year.

Based on Pirelli’s simulations, they are set to go a step harder after the Italian race, returning to the same sets as the Dutch Grand Prix; the C2, C3 and C4 compounds.

As F1 closes out the European leg of the season, the C2 will once again become the hard compound tyres, alongside the C3 mediums and C4 softs.

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.