Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola has indicated the company can adjust tyre compounds for specific circuits to promote more diverse pit strategies in the 2026 Formula 1 season. The first two races in Australia and China were both won by Mercedes using one-stop strategies, amid concerns over excessive tyre durability under new regulations. Isola made the comments after the Chinese Grand Prix.
The 2026 F1 season has begun with tyre wear proving higher than expected, leading to one-stop strategies prevailing in the opening rounds. Mercedes secured victory in both Australia and China on a single pit stop, with many front-runners following suit. This situation stems from Pirelli's new tyre range, which excludes the softest C6 compound and features lighter, narrower C1 to C5 options. Contributing factors include a 32kg reduction in minimum car weight, lower downforce, and power units with a near 50:50 split between electrical and thermal energy, prompting drivers to lift and coast to manage battery. Lap times have slowed as a result; pole position in China this year was 1.423 seconds slower than in 2025 due to less aggressive ground-effect aerodynamics from the prior rules era. Mario Isola, Pirelli's racing manager who will leave the company this summer, addressed the issue after the Chinese Grand Prix. “The target for the new tyres was similar to last year, so to have a mix of one-stop, two-stop with the three compounds suitable for the race,” Isola said. He noted that pre-season testing suggested compounds like C1, C2, and C3 for Bahrain, but data indicated a potential shift to the softer C2, C3, and C4. “We will consider that in general, so if in some circuits we need to go one step softer, there is the possibility to change the selection. We sent a draft selection to the teams... but we can change the selection in agreement with the FIA,” Isola added. Isola drew parallels to 2017, when one-stop wins occurred in 13 of 20 races following regulation changes that boosted tyre durability. Pirelli responded in 2018 by introducing hypersoft tyres. However, he cautioned it is early in the new rules cycle, with teams expected to develop faster cars later in the season, increasing tyre stress.
