Pirelli Selects C3 Hard, C4 Medium, C5 Soft for Baku
Pirelli has nominated the C3 as the hard compound, C4 as the medium and C5 as the soft for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The allocation is one step harder than the 2025 selection that included the unused C6. Drivers receive two sets of hard, three of medium and eight of soft, plus intermediates and wets if needed.
Pirelli Confirms 2026 Baku Compounds
Pirelli has selected the C3 as the hard compound, the C4 as the medium and the C5 as the soft for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit.[1][2] The allocation represents one step harder than the 2025 selection, which featured the C4 hard, C5 medium and C6 soft.[1]
Drivers will receive two sets of the hard (white sidewall), three sets of the medium (yellow) and eight sets of the soft (red).[1] An additional set of softs is available for those who reach Q3. All drivers must use at least two different slick compounds in a dry race.[1]
The FIA preview document lists the same compounds and confirms mandatory race use of the C3 and C4.[3]
Allocation Details
Pirelli informed teams of the compounds in late August as part of planning for the triple-header that includes events at Sepang and Singapore.[2] The choice reflects the street-circuit characteristics of Baku, where track evolution and lower abrasive demands play key roles.[3]
Related reading
- [1]What tyres will the teams and drivers have for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix? (formula1). Accessed 2026-09-26.
- [2]Tyre compound selections for Baku, Sepang and Singapore (pirelli). Accessed 2026-09-26.
- [3]Pirelli reveals tyre selections for Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Singapore Grands Prix (f1technical). Accessed 2026-09-26.