What Are the Tyre Options for the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya GP?

Formula 1 returns to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for Round 7 of this year’s World Championship. Home of the Spanish Grand Prix for 35 years, the event takes a new name in 2026.

Barcelona challenges every aspect of an F1 car, but especially its tyres. The mix of high- and low-speed corners have contributed to it being a regular venue for testing over the years.

Pirelli has chosen to go a step softer than last year with its tyre compound selection for 2026. The C2 will act as the Hard, the C3 as the Medium and the C4 is the Soft – all three compounds are expected to see the track over the weekend.

Additionally, teams have five sets of Intermediates and two sets of full Wet tyres to navigate adverse weather conditions. Drivers reaching Q3 will also receive an extra set of Softs. All drivers must use at least two different tyre compounds during a dry Grand Prix.

Rain is especially rare in Catalunya in June, but not a complete impossibility. The 1996 Spanish Grand Prix, held in torrential rain, saw Michael Schumacher dominate the field with one of the all-time great wet-weather performances.

What are the 2026 F1 Tyres?

The Pirelli tyres for 2026 are 18-inch wheels. Front tyres are 705mm in height and 280mm in width (a 25mm decrease from previous years) and rear tyres are now 710mm in height and 375mm in width (a 30mm reduction from previous seasons).

In 2026, there will be five compounds of dry tyres to choose from across the season – C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5.