Pirelli, in collaboration with the FIA and Formula 1, has unveiled its selections for the F1 final race tyre compounds for the remaining rounds of the season. This update includes softer tyre options at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, alongside revised lineups for other key races, aiming to encourage a wider range of racing strategies.
The adjustments stem from extensive data analysis gathered throughout the current season combined with simulation tests, with the goal of promoting more pit stops and increasing strategic variety during races.
Details of Tyre Selection Changes Across Key Circuits
At Zandvoort, the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix will see a shift to softer tyre compounds compared to last year, moving to a lineup featuring the C2, C3, and C4 as hard, medium, and soft tyres respectively. This is a notable change from the 2024 race, which utilized the hardest combinations (C1 through C3) and resulted in many teams opting for a one-stop tyre strategy. The softer selection for 2025 is expected to allow more diverse strategies and possibly additional pit stops.
In Baku, Pirelli will introduce the new C6 compound, which debuted this year to expand its dry-weather options to seven slick tyres. This compound will be the soft tyre for the race, alongside the C4 as hard and C5 as medium, marking a softer step down from the C3 to C5 mix seen in 2024. The change is designed to enhance strategic opportunities in Baku, known for relatively low tyre degradation and frequent race interruptions.
Austin and Mexico City will feature a further refinement, adding an intermediate step between the hard and medium compounds, a strategy first tested earlier this season in Spa. Specifically, Austin’s hard tyre will be the C1, one step harder than last year’s C2, and Mexico City will step to the C2 hard tyre versus the previous C3. The medium and soft tyres at these venues will remain consistent with last year’s selections.
Meanwhile, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix will return to the C2, C3, and C4 compound set, discarding the C5, which was deemed unsuitable for last year’s race. This move means no ultra-soft rubber will be used at this round.
Several other races, including Monza, Singapore, Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, will retain the same tyre compounds as in 2024. In particular, Qatar, with its abrasive track surface and high lateral tyre loads, will again feature the hardest tyre trio: C1, C2, and C3.
Goals Behind the Compound Decisions and Strategic Impact
Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport at Pirelli, emphasized the rationale behind the announcement and tyre choices:
“We decided to announce the compound choices for all remaining races in order to allow teams to prepare as well as possible for all the coming rounds,”
he explained.
Isola added that the selections were made after consulting with the FIA and the championship promoter, using data and simulation results to guide the decision-making process. The intention is to strike a balance between different pit stop strategies to make races more engaging for spectators while still maintaining competitive fairness.
“There is no single solution to achieving this, but without looking at the reality of the racing situation you can’t expect concrete answers.”
— Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport
The introduction of the C6 compound earlier this year has provided Pirelli with enhanced flexibility, enabling the supplier to tailor tyre selections more precisely to each track’s characteristics and the strategic aims of Formula 1. This expanded range of dry-weather tyres supports a wider variety of race tactics and could lead to more dynamic and unpredictable race outcomes during the closing stages of the championship.