Pirelli brings softest tire compounds for Azerbaijan GP

Pirelli has confirmed the tire compounds for this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, selecting its three softest compounds for Round 15 of the 2026 calendar. Teams will work with the C3 as the hard, C4 as the medium, and C5 as the soft — a step softer than last year's allocation, which also included the C6.

Why it matters:

Baku's unique blend of high-speed straights, tight corners, and heavy braking zones makes tire strategy one of the most decisive factors of the weekend. With Pirelli expecting low degradation on the smooth street surface, the window between one-stop and two-stop strategies could be razor-thin.

The details:

• Each driver gets 2 sets of hard (C3), 3 sets of medium (C4), and 8 sets of soft (C5) tires, plus the usual access to intermediates and full wets.
• An extra set of softs is reserved for drivers who reach Q3, and all drivers must run at least two different slick compounds in the race if it stays dry.
• Resurfacing: Sections of Turns 2, 3, and 4 have been repaved, but Pirelli expects minimal impact on tire behavior. Grip levels will initially be low, with significant track evolution expected as rubber builds up over the weekend.
• One-stop likely: The relatively smooth, non-abrasive asphalt should produce very low wear and degradation, making a one-stop race the most probable outcome. The C5 could deliver particularly long stints, similar to what was seen recently at Monza.
• Hard compound risk: The C3 could be overlooked by many teams during the race, as the softer compounds are expected to offer stronger performance without significant durability concerns.
• Cooling and lock-ups: The long full-throttle section from the final corner to Turn 1 promotes tire cooling, potentially increasing lock-up risk under heavy braking at the front axle. Shaded areas along the circuit should help limit track temperature spikes.

What's next:

Teams will get their first look at tire behavior on the resurfaced sections during Friday practice. With a one-stop race looking likely and the C5 potentially playing a starring role, qualifying performance and early-race tire management could be the key battlegrounds in Baku.