Pirelli brings softest C3-C4-C5 tyres to Mexico City and Interlagos as F1 title run-in begins
Pirelli has dropped last year's compound gap and nominated its three softest 2026 tyres for both the Mexico City and Sao Paulo Grands Prix.
Formula 1 heads to Mexico City this weekend on the softest tyres in Pirelli's 2026 range. The Italian supplier has nominated the C3 as the hard, the C4 as the medium and the C5 as the soft for the Mexico City Grand Prix from 30 October to 1 November, and will bring exactly the same trio to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos a week later, from 6 to 8 November. With Kimi Antonelli on the verge of the title, tyre strategy could play a part in whether he seals it in Mexico.
The softest trio in the 2026 range
Pirelli's 2026 range runs from C1 to C5 after the ultra-soft C6 was dropped when the new regulations arrived, so C3, C4 and C5 is the softest combination the teams can get. Austin last weekend used a step harder, with the C2, C3 and C4.
Pirelli described the Mexico and Brazil choice as the softest trio in the range when it announced its selections for the three American rounds on 9 October.
Why the compound gap has gone
Mexico City is the bigger change. In 2025 Pirelli left a gap in its selection there, pairing the C2 as hard with the C4 and C5, as it did in Austin with the C1. The idea was to give teams a durable hard tyre that might allow one fewer pit stop.
According to Pirelli, it did not work out that way. Teams leaned on the softer tyres instead of using the hard to stretch their stints, so this year the supplier has returned to three consecutive compounds. Last year's Mexico race showed how the softer tyres can shape the finish: Charles Leclerc held second on mediums while Max Verstappen, on fresh softs late on, could not pass him and settled for third behind winner Lando Norris.
Altitude and low grip
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez sits at roughly 2,200 metres above sea level. The thin air reduces downforce and cooling, and the track is usually slippery, particularly early in the weekend when the surface is dusty. That combination tends to reduce tyre wear but makes it harder to bring tyres into the right temperature window, which is one reason softer compounds suit the venue.
The long run from the grid to Turn 1, one of the longest on the calendar, also makes the start critical. Teams often prioritise track position, and tyre choice for the first stint can matter as much as the number of stops.
A different plan for Interlagos
At Interlagos the reasoning is slightly different. The Sao Paulo selection is one step softer than in 2025, when Pirelli says the hard tyre was barely used and most teams opted for two stops on mediums and softs. By softening the range, Pirelli hopes all three compounds become viable and teams have more strategic choices, possibly producing races where every compound is used.
There are no sprint races left in 2026, so both weekends follow the standard format of three practice sessions, qualifying and a Grand Prix. Mexico City's race starts at 14:00 local time on Sunday, which is 4am on Monday 2 November in Malaysia.
Key takeaways
- Pirelli will use the C3 (hard), C4 (medium) and C5 (soft) in Mexico City and Sao Paulo.
- It is the softest combination available in the 2026 range, which no longer includes the C6.
- Pirelli has removed the compound gap it used in Mexico in 2025, when the C2 was the hard.
- Teams relied on softer tyres last year instead of using the hard to save stops.
- At Interlagos, the softer range aims to make all three compounds useful in the race.
FAQ
Which tyres will F1 use at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix? Pirelli has nominated the C3 as the hard, the C4 as the medium and the C5 as the soft, the three softest compounds in its 2026 range.
Why did Pirelli change its Mexico tyre choice from 2025? Last year it skipped a step and brought the C2 as the hard to encourage longer stints, but teams relied on softer tyres anyway. Pirelli has returned to three consecutive compounds.
Are the Brazil tyres the same as Mexico? Yes. Sao Paulo will also use the C3, C4 and C5, one step softer than Pirelli's 2025 Interlagos selection.
Sources: Pirelli, Scuderia Fans, RacingNews365, Wikipedia