Pirelli has announced which tyres the various F1 teams will take to the private tests in Barcelona. Between 26 and 30 January all teams get five days to run the new cars for 2026 behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Several teams have made notable tyre choices; Red Bull, for example, is banking almost entirely on the softest compound.
Prior to the five-day shakedown in Spain, Pirelli revealed which tyres it will supply. Teams may choose from the C1, C2 and C3 compounds, supplemented by intermediates and full-wets. All entries have now submitted their selections and the Italian tyre supplier announced on Sunday which rubber each team will bring to Barcelona. Williams also submitted its selection, although it is now clear the Grove squad will skip these first tests due to delays in the development of the new FW48.
Red Bull bets on softs
The tyre choice from Red Bull stands out the most. The team has opted for eighteen sets of softs, one set of mediums and zero hards. The private tests also serve as the first shakedown for the Austrians, who have not yet put any miles on the new RB22. For rival McLaren the winter test in Barcelona will be a baptism as well; the papaya cars take to the track on Tuesday for the first time with the new MCL40. McLaren has chosen four sets of hards, ten sets of mediums and six sets of softs.
The other frontrunners, Ferrari and Mercedes, have already put some kilometres on the board with the SF-26 and the W17 respectively. The Scuderia is taking the bulk of the medium tyres to Barcelona next week — twelve sets in total. Mercedes, by contrast, has chosen no medium tyres. The complete overview of the tyre selections can be viewed below.
