Find out here which tire compounds Formula 1 supplier Pirelli will be providing for each Grand Prix in the 2025 season and what will be different from 2024
Italian manufacturer Pirelli will supply the racing tires for the 2025 Formula 1 season. These will be standard tires, with each team receiving identical material from Pirelli. The tire compounds available will vary depending on the venue.
The overview in this article shows which tire compounds are planned for each race weekend. Pirelli can choose from a pool of six different compounds – from C1 (very hard) to C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6 (very soft).
Three compounds are nominated for use on each race weekend. They can be distinguished visually by their sidewall colors: the hardest compound (Hard) is marked in white, the medium compound (Medium) in yellow, and the softest compound (Soft) in red.
The drivers themselves decide how many sets of tires of which compound they order from Pirelli for a race weekend. However, they must ensure that they comply with the respective requirements of the Formula 1 rules: Two different compounds must be used in the race. For example, a driver can start on Medium and then switch to Hard, or vice versa.
As a rule of thumb, the softest tire compound on a race weekend is the preferred choice for qualifying. This is because the softest compound theoretically offers the best performance on a single lap.
Formula 1 supplier Pirelli is introducing an innovation for the 2025 season: for the first time, there will be a C6 tire compound, a particularly soft tire whose performance is even better than the existing C5 compound for short periods.
Where there are different tires than last year
There will also be changes compared to last year on some race weekends: Pirelli has decided to make its tire allocation one step softer for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. Specifically, this means that in 2024, the C2, C3, and C4 compounds were used in Saudi Arabia. In 2025, it will be C3, C4, and C5. This change is indicated by arrows in the overview.
Pirelli will also go one step softer with its tire allocation for the following two race weekends. For Miami, this means C3 to C5 instead of C2 to C4. And for Imola, it means C4 to C6 instead of C3 to C5. The latest tire compound will therefore make its racing debut at the European opener of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Pirelli’s Head of Racing Mario Isola explains: “We wanted to use all available tire types as early as possible in the season in order to gather as much data as possible so that we can make our tire allocation for the second half of the year. And because the tires have proven to be durable so far, we can experiment and nominate tires that could lead to different strategies.”
The new C6 compound will also be used in Monaco and Canada. At both race tracks, the Pirelli tires are one grade softer than last year. The reason: “The C6 was developed specifically for tracks that don’t put as much strain on the tires.” However, Montreal, with its high-speed character and high lateral acceleration in the corners, will be “a challenge” for the soft tires, according to Pirelli.
