Some of the city streets that make up the circuit have been resurfaced. The work has affected sections of Turns 2, 3 and 4. The new asphalt, limited to specific areas, should not influence tyre behaviour which, as is often the case on street circuits, will initially be affected by rather low grip levels. Track evolution over the course of the weekend is instead expected to be significant, thanks to the progressive build-up of rubber on the surface.

For this event, Pirelli has selected the softest range of compounds: C3 as Hard, C4 as Medium and C5 as Soft. Last year, the selection was one step softer and included the C6 as Soft. However, that compound was not used in the race, as drivers preferred to extend their stints and retain greater strategic flexibility by relying on the C5 and C4. This year, the race weekend schedule has been brought forward by one day, with the first two practice sessions taking place on Thursday, qualifying on Friday and the race on Saturday at 15:00 local time.

The asphalt, which is relatively smooth and not very abrasive, should result in very low levels of wear and degradation, making a one-stop race the most likely scenario. The C5 could prove capable of delivering particularly long stints, as seen recently at Monza, a circuit that shares some characteristics with Baku. By contrast, the Hard compound could be overlooked by many teams in the race.

Some graining may occur, particularly during the opening sessions when grip levels are still low, but it is not expected to be a decisive factor in terms of performance.

Despite being a street circuit, Baku places significant loads on the tyres due to the extremely long main straight and the many low-speed acceleration zones. It is a typical stop-and-go layout, where braking stability and the ability to maximise traction on corner exit are crucial. Aerodynamic efficiency is also particularly important and a car with low drag could enjoy a clear advantage.

One of the most interesting tyre-related aspects will be temperature management. The very long full-throttle section linking the final corner to the first promotes tyre cooling, aided by developments in wheel rim design. This phenomenon could increase the risk of lock-ups under heavy braking, particularly on the front axle.

Ambient temperatures could also help keep tyre overheating under control. Despite the generally warm climate, the buildings lining the circuit create numerous shaded areas, limiting any rise in track temperature.

IN 2025

At the start of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 11 drivers opted for the C5 Medium and nine for the C4 Hard. All drivers completed a one-stop race and the C6 Soft was never used on Sunday. Esteban Ocon, after being forced to pit on the opening lap to replace a damaged front wing, fitted the Medium tyres and completed the entire race distance on that set.

STATISTICS

The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be the tenth to be held on the streets of Baku. Eight editions have been run under the Azerbaijan Grand Prix title and one, in 2016, as the European Grand Prix. Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen are the only drivers to have won more than once in Baku, with two victories each. Red Bull is the most successful team at the venue, with five wins. Charles Leclerc holds the record for the most pole positions, having started from the front of the grid on four occasions.

Rome (Italy), September 21^st, 2026 – The General Headquarters of the Arma dei Carabinieri and Pirelli have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to test Pirelli Cyber Tyre technology on select vehicles of the Rome Radiomobile Unit. The goal is to monitor the "health status" of Rome's road infrastructure to identify potential risk factors and contribute to improving road safety. The initiative begins with the installation of the Pirelli system on five Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles used for territorial control and emergency response services. Through sensors integrated into the tyres, proprietary algorithms, and advanced computer vision and artificial intelligence technologies, Cyber Tyre will enable the collection and analysis of data regarding the state of the road network, contributing to the timely identification of potential hazards.

In this trial launched with the Arma dei Carabinieri, data collected from the tyres will be integrated with data gathered by on-board cameras and analyzed using artificial intelligence algorithms developed by technology partner Univrses. The combination of sensors and computer vision will detect road surface anomalies or signage issues, helping to build a continuously updated map of road conditions. The use of Pirelli technology will be completely automatic and requires no intervention from the operators.

Cyber Tyre has already been used in similar monitoring projects with Movyon (an Autostrade per l'Italia group company) and Region Apulia.

On the occasion of the agreement signing, the Commander General of the Arma dei Carabinieri, Lt. Gen. Salvatore Luongo, highlighted “the constant focus on innovation in all sectors in which we operate,” explaining that: “This is a technological step forward that fully aligns with our vision: turning innovation into a driver of profound cultural renewal, allowing us to carry out our mission in an ever-new and effective way.”

Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Chairman of Pirelli, stated: "We are very pleased with this collaboration with the Arma dei Carabinieri. The Cyber Tyre system is capable of operating seamlessly even on tyres subjected to continuous strain and heavy stress, such as those used by the Radiomobile Unit's vehicles. This partnership, alongside those already established with public entities and automakers, demonstrates the robustness of our technology and its strategic importance in the development of connected and intelligent mobility.”

Pirelli Cyber Tyre Technology

Pirelli Cyber Tyre has transformed the tyre from a mechanical component into an intelligent device. Thanks to a sensor embedded inside the tyre, the system collects information, processes it through Pirelli software and algorithms, and transfers it in real time to onboard systems or dedicated platforms. The technology can be applied both in vehicles, where it interacts with ABS, ESP and traction control systems to enhance the effectiveness of electronic control systems, and in infrastructure monitoring, enabling the creation of road network health maps that help road authorities plan maintenance interventions.

Published on: 21 September 2026, 12:15 CET

A new test for the soft front tyre at the Red Bull Ring

“The Austrian Grand Prix represents a further opportunity to continue the development work on Moto2™ front tyres, which began in Aragón and continued at Misano. On a track that differs significantly from MotorLand Aragón, with severe braking, strong acceleration and few high-speed corners, we will once again make the E1089 soft front specification available. This will allow us to broaden its evaluation and continue the comparison with the range SC1. The objective is to gather further data and feedback that will be useful for the development of this solution.
At the rear, we are confirming last year’s allocation with the SCX, which also originated as a development tyre. Introduced in 2025 as the E0126 specification and subsequently added to the range, it is now the category benchmark. If weather conditions are favourable, it will be interesting to assess the performance gains compared with last season, both over a flying lap and across race distance. In the event of lower temperatures, riders will also have the range SC0 soft at their disposal, which was introduced at the Red Bull Ring in 2025 as the E0125 development solution.
The Austrian event will also be particularly relevant looking ahead. On the Monday following the race, the Spielberg circuit will host a private test session dedicated to the tyres that will be used by the premier class next season, providing an important opportunity to continue data collection and development work ahead of Pirelli’s debut as the World Championship single tyre supplier”.

The podium finishers all opted for a one-stop strategy. Antonelli and Verstappen made their pit stops during a Virtual Safety Car period. Norris had already passed the pitlane entry when the VSC started and, as a result, lost valuable time compared to the other two. Antonelli and Norris switched from Medium to Hard, while Verstappen replaced the Soft tyres he had started on with Hard.

The one-stop strategy was the most popular choice across the grid. Only George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Oliver Bearman, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas made two pit stops. Temperatures were similar to those seen on previous days. Track temperature peaked at 52°C, while air temperature reached 32°C.

In the championship battle, Antonelli now leads the standings with 292 points, followed by Russell in second place on 211. The next round of the calendar is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for Saturday 26 September.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“The teams approached today's race differently from what had been simulated on track on Friday. Thanks also to the opportunity provided by the Virtual Safety Car, they favoured a more measured management of pace and degradation, which allowed them to significantly extend stint lengths and made the one-stop strategy the preferred choice for the majority of the field.

“The star of the Grand Prix was the Hard tyre, a compound that had been little explored during free practice and which today demonstrated a very high level of consistency, proving to be the most robust of the three compounds from both a thermal and mechanical perspective. With the C2, we saw several stints exceeding 45 laps, reaching very high levels of wear without any significant performance drop-off. Both the Medium and the Soft also proved to be effective options despite the track temperatures. The C4, in particular, completed competitive stints comparable to those of the Medium in terms of durability.

“As expected, graining appeared mainly on the front-left tyre, on the inner area of the tread, but with limited intensity. The work carried out by the teams on car set-up and tyre management helped to minimise its effects. In a race characterised by few overtaking opportunities, the drivers were able to focus on tyre management, contributing to a very straightforward contest from a strategic perspective.

“Congratulations to Ugo Ugochukwu for securing the Formula 3 championship title today at the end of a highly competitive season. The series continues to represent an important proving ground for young talents from all over the world. The fact that the title was decided only at the final round highlights the exceptionally high level of competitiveness within the championship, which this year delivered spectacular racing and outstanding sporting value.”

FORMULA 2

Dino Beganovic claimed victory in Sunday’s Formula 2 Feature Race. Alex Dunne crossed the line in second place, while Ritomo Miyata completed the podium in third. All three drivers adopted the same strategy, starting on the Soft compound before switching to Hard tyres. The three podium finishers made their mandatory pit stop on lap 18 and completed the remainder of the race on the Hard compound.

FORMULA 3

Ugo Ugochukwu was crowned Formula 3 World Champion. The driver finished second in the final Feature Race of the season in Madrid, a result that proved sufficient to secure the title. Freddie Slater crossed the line in eighth place, allowing Ugochukwu to move ahead of him in the final championship standings. The season finale was won by Tuukka Taponen, while Pedro Clerot finished third.

Strong performance across the range and encouraging feedback on new developments

“The Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera was extremely positive for Pirelli, not only because of the lap records and the improvements in overall race times, but above all because it once again demonstrated that our entire range is both competitive and highly versatile.
In Moto2™, both front options – the standard tyre and the new F0749 development specification – delivered strong performances. Gonzalez won and Salač set the new race lap record on the standard product, while the new specification, which made its race debut, was the most popular choice and secured podium finishes with Veijer and Baltus.
We saw similar results in Moto3™, where every available tyre combination was used and all performed extremely well. This applied both to the medium SC2 used by Quiles at both the front and rear in his race-winning performance, and to the SC1 chosen by Almansa, who led the race until the final corner.
Providing several equally competitive solutions is one of the main objectives of our work. The results achieved at Misano confirm not only the strong performance of our standard compounds, but also the potential of the new specifications under development, which have continued to receive very positive feedback from riders and teams since their first outings”.

Qualifying took place in temperatures that reached 32°C ambient and 53°C on track. The Soft compound was the predominant choice throughout the session, although Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton opted to begin Q1 on the Medium. All the other drivers headed out immediately on the C4.

For Norris, it was his third pole position of the season. The McLaren driver improved his benchmark on his final flying lap, securing top spot at the end of a qualifying session that remained finely balanced until the very last moment.

During the third free practice session, the drivers focused primarily on qualifying simulations. Liam Lawson was the only driver to use the Hard compound, completing a seven-lap stint, while both Audi drivers ran the Medium: ten laps for Nico Hülkenberg and eight for Gabriel Bortoleto. The remainder of the field used only the Soft.

FP3 was interrupted by two red flags following incidents involving Hamilton and Oliver Bearman. However, the drivers were still able to complete a sufficient number of laps, as Race Control stopped the clock with around 15 minutes of the session remaining. At the end of the session, Antonelli was the fastest with a time of 1:32.797, ahead of Leclerc in second on 1:32.963 and Oscar Piastri in third with a 1:32.986.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by Diego Simeone, head coach of Atlético Madrid. As a player, the former midfielder won a UEFA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, a Coppa Italia, a Copa del Rey, and league titles in both Italy and Spain. With Atlético Madrid, he holds the club’s record for the most matches managed.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Today’s sessions confirmed the strong performance level of the Soft compound. Despite the free practice sessions being affected by a lengthy interruption, the teams were able to evaluate different ways of using the C4, with some drivers managing to improve their lap times even within the same run, thanks to track evolution and increasing confidence with the circuit.

“For some drivers, a slight drop in performance was observed in the final sector, mainly due to overheating, but overall the red-marked tyre worked extremely well. In fact, compared to the simulations, the quickest qualifying times were around half a second faster.

“It was also interesting to see some teams choose to tackle Q1 on the Medium compound, thereby preserving a fresh set of Soft tyres for the race. The performance gap between the two compounds is clear, but not significant enough to prevent those with sufficient pace margin from progressing without immediately resorting to the softer option.

“The picture for Sunday remains very open. A one-stop strategy currently appears to be the most natural choice, given the difficulty of overtaking and the time lost in the pit lane. However, a two-stop strategy could still prove competitive if degradation remains at the levels observed on Friday.

“The most likely strategies revolve around the Medium-Hard and Medium-Hard-Hard combinations. The Soft-Hard and Soft-Hard-Hard alternatives are estimated to be around two seconds slower over race distance. The C2 is undoubtedly the most consistent compound, and the majority of drivers have preserved both sets for precisely that reason.

“Much will depend, however, on the possible deployment of the Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car, a scenario which, on a street circuit with barriers so close to the track, represents, as we have already seen during the previous sessions, a factor that must be taken very seriously.”

FORMULA 2

The Formula 2 Sprint Race in Spain was won by Ritomo Miyata. Emerson Fittipaldi crossed the line in second place, while Laurens van Hoepen claimed the final spot on the podium. The Formula 2 Feature Race is scheduled for Sunday.

FORMULA 3

The Formula 3 title battle is in the spotlight this weekend, with the category contesting its season finale. In the Sprint Race that opened the weekend, Ugo Ugochukwu managed to cut championship leader Freddie Slater’s advantage by three points, reducing the gap to 12. The Sprint Race was won by Theophile Nael, with James Wharton finishing second and Alex Powell completing the podium in third place.

Positive debut for the new Moto2™ front solution

“At Misano, we introduced a new front specification for the Moto2™ riders, identified by the code F0749. This solution uses the same compound as the standard soft SC1 but combines it with a completely revised structure developed to increase support and provide greater stability.
The feedback gathered during the opening sessions has been particularly encouraging. The riders, who had the opportunity to make a direct comparison with the standard SC1, reported greater precision and stability under braking and on corner entry, as well as a better feel when releasing the brakes, allowing them to hold their line more effectively all the way to the apex.
We are still at an early stage of the evaluation, but the riders’ initial feedback is always a very important indicator. The fact that several of them are already inclined to confirm this solution for tomorrow’s race is an encouraging sign and is consistent with our expectations. At the rear, meanwhile, the SCX has once again proved to be the clear benchmark, and we expect it to be the unanimous choice for the race.
Finally, in Moto3™, we expect the soft SC1 solution to be the predominant choice on both axles, although some riders may opt for the medium SC2 at the front depending on their set-up needs and riding style.”

Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.113 seconds behind Antonelli, ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who posted a 1:33.811 and narrowly avoided the barriers on the exit of Turn 17. The top three all began the session on a new set of Medium tyres before switching to the Soft compound, on which they set their quickest laps.

Arvid Lindblad, fourth fastest, was also responsible for the session stoppage after crashing into the barriers at Turn 13. George Russell, fifth in FP2, had dominated the opening session with a time of 1:34.077. The first hour of running featured numerous lap times deleted for track limits infringements but no interruptions. Antonelli, who was second in FP1, set the quickest overall Medium-tyre lap of the day during the final hour of running, recording a 1:33.926.

The Medium compound was the most widely used tyre on Friday, accounting for 58% of all laps completed. Oliver Bearman completed the highest mileage on the C3, extracting 23 laps from a single set, while Leclerc holds the benchmark for the C4 after completing 17 laps on one set. The Hard tyre was used only by Gabriel Bortoleto in FP1 and Nico Hülkenberg in FP2, with the German also setting the quickest time on the C2 thanks to a lap of 1:35.746.

Temperatures were high throughout the day, with track temperature peaking at 51°C at the start of the second free practice session, while the air temperature reached 32°C.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“Today was particularly important as it allowed both us and the teams to gather the first real-world data from a completely new circuit. Unfortunately, the red flag in the middle phase of the second free practice session reduced both the number and length of the long runs, limiting the amount of information available from a race perspective. We observed graining on both the front and rear left tyres, in some cases quite significant, which contributed to accelerating wear on the cars most prone to sliding. Differences between the teams are already becoming apparent in terms of who is able to manage the tyres more effectively over a stint.

“Track conditions were very good from the outset, with grip levels among the highest seen so far this season. The combination of high grip and a very smooth track surface encouraged the onset of graining, although this should ease slightly as the circuit continues to evolve, a trend that was already noticeable throughout the day. The Hard tyre represents the most important option for the race, given degradation levels higher than initially expected and the high temperatures that are forecast to persist over the coming days. The performance gap between the Medium and Soft compounds proved smaller than anticipated, averaging around half a second. Looking ahead to tomorrow’s qualifying session, it will be crucial to maximise the first flying lap in order to avoid the onset of thermal degradation, while carefully managing traffic, which could prove to be a decisive factor around this circuit.”

FORMULA 2

With a time of 1:44.331, Dino Beganovic secured pole position on Friday. Beganovic outpaced Alex Dunne, who was second with a lap of 1:44.561, while third place went to Rafael Camara with a 1:44.853. The Sprint Race is scheduled for Saturday. In Sunday's Feature Race, Beganovic will start from pole position.

FORMULA 3

Taiko Cato and Tuukka Taponen shared the pole positions in the two sessions held today at Madring. The ART Grand Prix driver will start from the front of the grid for Feature Race 1, while the MP Motorsport driver will line up first on the grid for Feature Race 2.

The compounds selected for this event are the C2 as Hard, the C3 as Medium and the C4 as Soft. The start-finish line and Turn 1 are separated by just 200 metres. The first sector is very fast and leads into a second section featuring several medium and low-speed corners, including the banked Turn 12. The final part of the lap also includes a number of 90-degree corners similar to those drivers encounter in Baku.

Pirelli's work to identify the forces that tyres will be subjected to at the Madring began three years ago, when the designers provided the first information on the final layout. Using simulation tools, the trajectories that the cars would follow around the circuit were identified and, consequently, the loads to which the tyres would be exposed were calculated.

Once the circuit had been completed, a group of Pirelli engineers visited the venue to measure the asphalt's macro and micro roughness, refine the simulations and produce a technical briefing document that was shared with the teams to support their preparation for this new event.

From an energy perspective, the Madrid circuit ranks among the five most demanding on the calendar, with lateral forces comparable in intensity to those recorded at Barcelona and Silverstone. The "Monumental" is the corner that generates the highest vertical load of the season, not only because of its banking but also because of its length.

Its configuration will also present a significant challenge in terms of tyre grip. Drivers may adopt different approaches when tackling it, depending on how much they wish to prioritise the opportunity to attack into the following corner.

The asphalt is very smooth and therefore offers a relatively low level of grip. For this reason, it has been treated with high-pressure water jets, as is already done at other circuits, including Singapore, to remove dust and oily residues typically associated with newly laid surfaces.

Another distinctive feature of the circuit is its elevation change. The highest point is located at Turn 7, approximately 700 metres above sea level. The section leading up to it, beginning at Turn 6, features an 8% gradient and an elevation gain of 10 metres. The lowest point of the circuit is at Turn 2, with a height difference of 26 metres compared with Turn 7.

In the absence of testing at the new circuit prior to the race weekend, teams will wait until the first free practice session before defining their programme for the following days and their tyre usage strategy for the Grand Prix. Should degradation of the softer compounds prove to be significant, they may decide to preserve sets of Hard tyres for Sunday's race.

As for temperatures, during the same week last year ambient highs reached 29°C. Given the altitude at which the circuit is located, particularly hot conditions are not expected.

STATISTICS

Formula 1 has previously raced in the Madrid region. Between 1968 and 1981, nine editions of the Spanish Grand Prix were held at the Jarama circuit, located 30 kilometres from the capital. The driver with the most victories at the San Sebastián de los Reyes venue is Mario Andretti (2), while Lotus tops the constructors' list with four wins. Looking instead at the Spanish Grand Prix as a whole, which has been staged 55 times across five different circuits, the most successful drivers are Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, with six victories each, while Ferrari leads the constructors' standings with 12 wins.

PIRELLI PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

The Madrid podium cap features a completely white crown. This special Podium Cap, created by designer Denis Dekovic for Pirelli Design, features the seven stars of Ursa Major beneath the peak, one of the most recognisable symbols of the Spanish capital. The cap is already available for purchase on Pirelli’s e-commerce platform: https://store.pirelli.com.

A new structure to improve front-end performance
 
“After Aragón, we will continue the Moto2™ front tyre development programme at Misano. At a circuit that we know very well, which hosts competitions in several categories and numerous manufacturers’ tests, we will introduce a new solution: the F0749 specification. This tyre also belongs to the ‘soft’ family, but it differs substantially from the E1089 used two weeks ago at Aragón: while the latter retained the structure of the standard SC1 combined with a new compound, the F0749 instead features a new structure paired with the soft compound of the standard SC1.
The work carried out by Pirelli engineers has focused on the goal of providing riders with greater stability, a particularly important aspect at a circuit that features the fastest corner on the championship calendar, as well as improved braking performance. The front tyre allocation, completed by the standard SC1, which was unanimously chosen by the riders last year, will allow for a direct and immediate comparison between the two solutions, enabling us to gather significant data to continue the development programme.
At the rear, the softer solutions are confirmed, having since entered the range under the SCX and SC0 names. It will therefore be interesting to assess their performance evolution both over race distance and on a single lap, the result of the continuous development work carried out by Pirelli engineers, also in collaboration with the teams”.

A red flag after the third lap allowed all drivers to replace the tyres on which they had started the race. Antonelli, who had started on the Hard compound, switched to Mediums during the stoppage. Russell did exactly the opposite, but completed the race on the C3 fitted at that time. Antonelli, meanwhile, adopted a different strategy, taking advantage of the Virtual Safety Car on lap 29 to pit and fit a fresh set of Medium tyres. Verstappen also stopped during the neutralisation period, switching from Mediums to Hards. The Dutchman had started on Softs.

The Grand Prix took place in particularly hot conditions, with air temperatures reaching around 34°C and track temperatures exceeding 50°C. All three compounds were used during the race. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez completed the highest number of laps on a single set of Soft tyres, covering 24 laps. Yuki Tsunoda, Lewis Hamilton and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the highest number of laps on a single set of Mediums, reaching 50 laps. Seven drivers covered the same distance on a set of Hard tyres.

Thanks to his victory at Monza, Antonelli extended his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship over second-placed George Russell. The Italian now leads the standings with 267 points, while the Briton is second on 201, 66 points behind.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“We expected a race in which all three compounds would be viable strategic options and that proved to be the case. Teams had the opportunity to adopt different approaches, so much so that the starting grid presented a particularly varied picture. We saw drivers start on each of the available compounds, with different strategies unfolding throughout the race. Those who switched early to the Hard or Medium compound were able to complete most of the race distance comfortably thanks to extremely low degradation levels.

The data collected confirmed what we had observed over the previous days. Even during the most intense battles, with numerous overtakes and a few lock-ups, no significant wear-related issues emerged. We did observe some graining, with differing behaviour from team to team, demonstrating just how much the phenomenon was influenced by individual car characteristics and stint management.

The Virtual Safety Car inevitably limited the opportunity to gather further information on the C5 in long-run conditions, but the sets used by the drivers who completed the longest stints on the Soft compound showed low degradation in line with expectations. The rear axle undoubtedly benefited from Monza’s long straights, which helped contain tyre overheating under traction despite the high track temperatures.

Overall, the performance of the entire range was extremely positive, allowing drivers to push throughout the race while promoting close battles and numerous overtaking opportunities. We witnessed an action-packed race characterised by varied strategies, exactly the type of scenario we aim to help create.

Congratulations to Kimi Antonelli who, after climbing through the field from the penultimate position on the grid, managed to secure victory with an extraordinary recovery drive, completing 26 overtakes and taking advantage of a Virtual Safety Car period to fit a fresh set of Medium tyres that enabled him to catch and pass his team-mate before the chequered flag. His success brought an Italian driver back to the top step of the Monza podium for the first time in sixty years.”

FORMULA 2

Joshua Durksen won Sunday’s Formula 2 race in Italy. At Monza, Durksen managed to stay ahead of team-mate Rafael Camara, who finished second. Noel Leon completed the podium in third place. Durksen started on the Supersoft compound before switching to Softs on lap six. Team-mate Camara pitted two laps later to make the same change. Leon stopped on lap seven, meaning that the strategies of the top three drivers were very similar.

FORMULA 3

The Formula 3 Feature Race at Monza was won by Nicola Lacorte. Tuukka Taponen finished second, with Taito Kato taking third place. Freddie Slater retains the championship lead following this round with 141 points, while Ugo Ugochukwu occupies second place in the standings on 126 points. At the Madrid Grand Prix, the Formula 3 schedule includes the season’s final Sprint Race as well as no fewer than two Feature Races.

Suninen, co-driven by Antti Haapala in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, took the lead on Friday’s night stages and ended the opening day in first place. He subsequently remained among the frontrunners, managing a rally made particularly demanding by rain on some stages and constant changes in grip. The Finn finished second and sealed the title by winning the concluding Power Stage, making his championship lead over Andrea Mabellini, at the wheel of a Pirelli-equipped Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale and his direct rival in the title fight, unassailable.

Suninen’s success crowns a season built on consistency and the ability to be competitive on very different surfaces and routes. The Finn claimed his first ERC victory at Rally Poland and three second places at Rally di Roma Capitale, Barum Czech Rally Zlín and in Wales.

For reigning champion Pirelli, its second consecutive tyre manufacturers’ title comes at the end of a season contested on different surfaces, from asphalt to gravel, but almost always in high temperatures. Its drivers claimed three victories in the first four rounds and scored decisive points throughout the championship. Further adding to this tally are Ville Vatanen’s achievements: as well as winning the Fiesta Rally3 Trophy at the Barum, he was crowned ERC3 champion in Wales at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Winning the Trophy will enable him to make his debut in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 at the final round of the season in Portugal, thanks to the prize offered by Pirelli and M-Sport.

“Winning the title with one round to spare is a result of great significance,” commented Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. “Suninen put together an extremely solid season, combining speed, consistency and race management, as he also demonstrated here in Wales. His results, together with those of Andrea Mabellini and all our drivers, enabled us to retain the tyre manufacturers’ title. These results, together with Vatanen’s achievements, reward the work carried out throughout the year by a close-knit and passionate team, as well as our ongoing commitment to innovation in products capable of delivering performance and reliability for cars from different manufacturers and on widely differing surfaces.”

Production SCX confirms its outstanding versatility and competitiveness

"The FIM Superbike World Championship French Round concludes with excellent results for the tyres across all categories, both in terms of outright lap times and consistency and performance over race distance. Compared to a year ago, when Pirelli provided Superbike riders with the same softer solutions, then still development tyres and now promoted to the production range, the comparison highlights a significant improvement in performance.
Both the SCX supersoft rear and the SCQ extrasoft allowed riders to achieve outstanding results, enabling them to lap at a much faster pace than a year ago. The average improvement in race lap times was one second in today’s Race 2, up to the point when the red flag was shown. Even over a single lap, Bulega’s time in the Superpole Race, when he went faster than Razgatlioğlu’s outright record set in qualifying last year with the SCQ development tyre in E0479 specification, provides further evidence of the extensive development work resulting from the close collaboration between Pirelli engineers and engineers from the various manufacturers.
By now, we are well aware of the SCX’s outright competitiveness, even in situations with significantly different temperatures. In this respect, today’s Superpole Race grid being evenly split between riders choosing the extrasoft SCQ and those opting for the SCX confirms that Pirelli’s products allow riders to make alternative choices while remaining equally competitive”.

SCORPION MX SOFT. Available exclusively in rear sizes, including minicross fitments, it is the ideal choice for the most demanding competition on sand, mud and clay, when paired with a SCORPION™ MX32™ Mid Soft front tyre.

SCORPION™ MX32™ MID SOFT. Available in front and rear sizes, it is designed for professional and amateur riders tackling medium-soft terrain, from mud and grass to loose soil. The previous generation also remains available in STADIUM versions for supercross and in minicross fitments.

SCORPION™ MX32™ MID HARD. Available in front and rear sizes, it is ideal for medium to hard terrain, from compact ground to gravelly surfaces. A dedicated STADIUM version is also available for supercross.

SCORPION MX EXTRA X. Designed for training, it offers outstanding versatility on both medium-soft and medium-hard surfaces, delivering an excellent balance of performance, durability and reliability.

Pirelli’s softer production rear tyres highly effective at Magny-Cours

"Confirming the progress seen throughout the season, this first race day of the French Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship also saw a significant overall improvement in performance compared to 2025. In the morning, with cooler temperatures, Bulega was able to make the most of the grip offered by the production extrasoft SCQ rear tyre, setting a new Magny-Cours lap record in qualifying and improving the benchmark set by Razgatlioğlu last year by more than six tenths, with the E0479, then a development solution and now promoted to production specification. In addition to Bulega, three other riders also broke the previous record, confirming the excellent level of performance offered by the softest solution in the Pirelli range. It will be interesting to see how many riders choose to use this solution in tomorrow’s Superpole Race, where Alex Lowes secured third place last year.
There was also significant progress, both in terms of outright lap times and performance over race distance, for the production supersoft SCX, which last year, as the E0126 development specification, had proved to be the winning solution in all three races. Bridewell’s fortunately consequence-free incident led to a shortened race distance, but after the restart Bulega confirmed his excellent feeling with the SCX, improving the race lap record by almost half a second. Tomorrow it will be interesting to assess race pace over the full 21-lap distance, providing a better measure of the progress made from one year to the next, thanks to the intensive development work carried out by Pirelli engineers and the technicians of the various teams".

Throughout qualifying, drivers ran predominantly on the Soft compound, with the exception of George Russell and Liam Lawson, who initially opted for the Medium in Q1. Russell set the fastest time of the opening session on the C4, while Lawson improved later after switching to the C5. All three qualifying sessions took place in very hot conditions, with air temperatures exceeding 35°C and track temperatures reaching 49°C. Similar conditions are forecast for tomorrow’s race.

Russell was quickest in FP3 with a lap of 1:22.219. Lewis Hamilton finished second, ahead of Max Verstappen. Only the Medium and Soft compounds were used during the session. Alex Albon completed the highest number of laps on the same set of Soft tyres with 19 laps, while Pierre Gasly logged the most laps on the same set of Mediums with 17.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by Federica Brignone. The Italian alpine skier, Olympic champion in the super-G and giant slalom at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, also boasts three additional Olympic medals, five World Championship medals, two overall World Cup titles and five discipline World Cups.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Our simulations indicate that a one-stop strategy will be the most competitive option at Monza, although several variations are very close in terms of overall race time. The choice of starting compound will likely depend on the characteristics of each car, as well as on the strategic approach teams wish to adopt according to their grid position.

The Medium appears to offer the greatest flexibility, allowing teams to react to any neutralisations in either the early stages or the latter part of the race. On paper, the quickest strategy involves starting on the C4 and making a pit stop between laps 24 and 30 before running to the flag on the Hard.

An alternative, estimated to be around two seconds slower over the full race distance, is to switch from the Medium to the Soft between laps 30 and 36. The C5 has proved fully raceable and could represent an interesting option for those looking to exploit its higher level of initial grip to gain positions along the long straight leading into Turn 1. In this scenario, the optimal pit stop window would be between laps 19 and 25, with the Hard compound taken through to the chequered flag.

The data gathered today confirms limited degradation across all three compounds, with no signs of critical wear or significant performance drop-off. We expect the graining observed yesterday to remain limited and not to have a significant impact on stint management.

The characteristics of the circuit, with its long straights and relatively low traction demands, also help control rear tyre temperatures and therefore promote optimal thermal management throughout the Grand Prix. Teams will therefore have several strategic options available, with all three compounds fully usable and capable of offering different opportunities depending on how the race unfolds.”

FORMULA 2

Joshua Dürksen claimed victory in the Monza Sprint Race. The driver managed to keep John Bennett behind him, with Bennett finishing second at the chequered flag, while Oliver Goethe completed the podium in third place. Rafael Câmara will start tomorrow’s Feature Race from pole position.

FORMULA 3

Saturday’s Formula 3 Sprint Race was won by Taito Kato. Behind him, Freddie Slater secured second place, while Hiyu Yamakoshi completed the podium in third. Thanks to his runner-up finish in the Sprint Race, Slater was able to extend his championship lead over his closest rival, Ugo Ugochukwu.

This afternoon, ambient temperatures reached 35°C, while track temperatures peaked at 47.5°C. In FP2, all three compounds were used, although the Medium and Soft were the most popular choices. Antonelli completed the highest number of laps on the Hard (23), Verstappen completed the most on the Medium (22), while Carlos Sainz covered the greatest distance on the Soft, with 18 laps.

Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver in the opening free practice session. The Monegasque posted a lap of 1:23.008, finishing more than a tenth of a second clear of Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton in second place. George Russell was third with a time of 1:23.312.

The Ferrari drivers each used one set of Hards and one set of Mediums during FP1. Russell opted instead for a Medium and a Soft. The Mercedes driver set his best time on the Soft, while both Ferrari drivers recorded their quickest laps on the Medium.

Overall, 14 drivers used the Hard compound during the first free practice session. The Medium and Soft were also widely used, confirming extensive running across all three compounds available this weekend.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“The first two free practice sessions showed a balanced performance profile across the compounds. Despite particularly high track temperatures, degradation remained limited and manageable on all three tyres in the range, which appear well suited to the characteristics of this circuit.

The most demanding traction zones are effectively confined to the exits of the first and second chicanes, while the long straights help cool the rear axle efficiently. We observed a small amount of graining, particularly on the front-left tyre, but only to a limited extent and without any significant impact on performance.

One particularly interesting point to emerge today concerns the Soft compound, which demonstrated good consistency during the long runs and appears to be a viable option for the race as well. Tomorrow, however, it may be difficult to complete more than one flying lap on the C5, due to the performance loss associated with thermal degradation.

The performance gaps were in line with our simulations: around half a second between the C4 and C5 and approximately two tenths between the C3 and C4. The differences between the various options are relatively small because of the limited longitudinal and lateral energy generated by the circuit.

Several strategic scenarios therefore remain open for Sunday's race, particularly as any neutralisations could create interesting opportunities when selecting the compound for the final stint.”

FORMULA 2

Rafael Camara will start Sunday's Formula 2 feature race from pole position. The Brazilian was the fastest driver in qualifying, finishing ahead of team-mate Joshua Dürksen. Alex Dunne set the third-fastest time in Friday's session.

FORMULA 3

Freddie Slater secured pole position on Friday at Monza. The Briton finished ahead of team-mate Matteo De Paolo, while Nicola Lacorte claimed the third-fastest time. Qualifying was held with the field split into Groups A and B.

Following their double podium at the Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Suninen leads the championship with 108 points at the wheel of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, while Mabellini lies second on 83 points in the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale.

Although created only a few years ago, the rally offers a traditional-style challenge, with narrow and technical roads, uneven surfaces and constant changes of pace. Fast sections through the valleys and across the uplands alternate with stretches where driving precision and the ability to read the surface become crucial. The 16 special stages cover a total of 196 competitive kilometres across the counties of Ceredigion and Powys.

The weather represents one of the main uncertainties of the rally, with highly variable conditions and moderate to low temperatures, at least during the first part of the weekend. The latest forecasts indicate light, scattered rain and the possibility of alternating wet, damp and dry asphalt.

The rally will immediately get under way in earnest on Friday evening. Following the shakedown and Qualifying Stage, the crews will tackle two runs through the Aberystwyth Street Stage before the night-time Elerch and Blaenmelindwr stages. Saturday, the longest day of the rally, will feature two runs through Cwm Elan, a 21.8-kilometre stage across the Elan Valley. On Sunday, the second run through Ty Glyn will award Power Stage points.

For the Welsh rally, Pirelli will make the medium-compound P Zero RA7E and soft-compound P Zero RA7+D available to its crews, together with the Cinturato RWD in the event of rain.

“Ceredigion is a particularly complex rally because it does not have one single defining characteristic,” commented Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. “The drivers must constantly switch from very fast sections to narrow and technical stretches, often on uneven surfaces. This year there is also a degree of weather uncertainty that we have not encountered at the previous rounds, all of which were characterised by high temperatures. The alternation between rain, damp conditions and dry asphalt will make it difficult to identify the best compromise in terms of both tyre choice and car set-up. Friday’s night stages may also influence the decisions. The medium provides consistency and precision on the faster and more demanding sections, while the soft offers a solution suited to lower temperatures and reduced grip.”

In addition to Suninen and Mabellini, newly crowned ERC3 champion Ville Vatanen, at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally3, and Max McRae in a Škoda Fabia RS will also compete on Pirelli tyres.

Trophy’s photo: vedovamazzei with FRAGILE (2026), FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2026 trophy realized by artistic duo vedovamazzei (Simeone Crispino and Stella Scala) and commissioned by Pirelli with Pirelli HangarBicocca
Courtesy the artists
Photo A. Osio

Pirelli’s connection with the Temple of Speed, Europe’s most historic racing circuit, extends far beyond the proximity between the Italian company’s headquarters and the autodrome. It is also rooted in the many victories achieved on Pirelli tyres at Monza. Among them is Pietro Bordino’s win in a Fiat 804 at the Grand Prix that inaugurated the newly built circuit on 10 September 1922.

Pirelli will be the Title Sponsor of the race weekend and will celebrate its relationship with the Italian Grand Prix through the trophy, created by an Italian artistic duo, which will be lifted by the top three finishers in Sunday’s race, as well as through a special edition of the podium caps.

THE TROPHY

Photogallery at this link

The three drivers who will step onto the podium on Sunday, together with a representative of the winning team, will celebrate the outcome of the race by lifting FRAGILE, a trophy conceived as a work of art by the artist duo vedovamazzei.

The Italian Grand Prix trophy is commissioned each year from Italian artists as part of a multy-year project, now in its sixth edition, initiated by Pirelli, the race’s title sponsor, in collaboration with the Pirelli HangarBicocca Museum of Contemporary Art.

For the 2026 edition, the commission was awarded to vedovamazzei, the duo formed by Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino, whose artistic practice combines irony with an ability to capture the contradictions and complexities of reality. Their works often reinterpret everyday objects, highlighting the world’s paradoxical aspects.

FRAGILE is precisely a layered composition of household objects - cups and small bowls - that take on an unsteady-looking vertical form when stacked on top of each other.

The work required a traditional process of transposing drawings and sketches onto paper, followed by a highly technological 3D printing process using nylon powder. This material was then painted, galvanized, and polished until it became reflective.

The artists explain: “The idea for the trophy stems from the ancient tradition of passing a celebratory cup from hand to hand. It served as a large drinking vessel, creating a sense of shared celebration and festivity.”

“We wanted the trophy to be the symbol of a victory that an individual holds in their hands, yet it reflects the spirit of a community. In the case of Formula 1, this community includes the team, the fans, and the entire world revolving around the drivers. The composition also evokes an everyday dimension with its repeated gestures, suggesting a victory earned lap after lap that never corresponds to an eternal, unchanging status. It is unstable, short-lived, and must be reclaimed. In fact, it is fragile.”

The commission awarded to vedovamazzei follows those assigned to artists Alice Ronchi (2021), Patrick Tuttofuoco (2022), Ruth Beraha (2023), Andrea Sala (2024) and Nico Vascellari (2025).

PIRELLI PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

For the Monza weekend, Pirelli Design has created a special edition podium cap that will be worn by the drivers finishing on the podium at the Temple of Speed. Designed by Denis Dekovic, the cap features the iconic Azzurro colour of Italian sport and is embellished with gold embroidery and the unmistakable laurel wreaths associated with the podium.

The contrasting black visor is embroidered with the word “Monza”. On the side, an “Italia 2026” embroidery with four gold stars is accompanied by the dates of the race weekend. The special edition is already available to purchase on the e-commerce platform https://store.pirelli.com.

THE CIRCUIT

At Monza, the three softest compounds in the range will be in use: the C3 as Hard, the C4 as Medium and the C5 as Soft. On paper, all three options could play a role in shaping Sunday’s race strategies, provided temperatures are not excessively high.

The 5.793 km circuit, featuring 11 corners, is one of the fastest on the Formula 1 calendar, thanks in part to its long straights which, this year, will present an additional challenge for energy management with the new power units. Team simulations are in fact predicting lap times around two seconds quicker than last year.

From a tyre perspective, the front axle should be subjected to lower braking loads, as braking zones are likely to be approached at reduced speeds. By contrast, the rear axle will face greater demands during traction phases, when the full power of the power unit is deployed.

Braking stability and traction on corner exit, particularly at the First Chicane and Ascari, will be the two key factors in gaining an advantage over rivals on a track that is typically run with a low-downforce aerodynamic set-up, prioritising top speed.

The circuit generally offers a good level of grip from the opening sessions. No significant modifications have been made since the complete resurfacing carried out in 2024, when a relatively smooth asphalt mixture was laid. This year, the kerbs at Turns 1, 4 and 8 have been rebuilt, while at Turn 5 a gravel area has been replaced with an asphalt run-off section.

Drivers will likely have to manage rear axle overheating during the race, but degradation should not be severe enough to compromise tyre performance. As a result, a one-stop strategy appears the most likely option for Sunday, despite the fact that overtaking opportunities are far from scarce at Monza.

IN 2025

For the opening stint, most drivers opted for the Medium compound. Five chose the Hard, while only one started on the Soft. The red-banded tyre reappeared towards the end of the race, with several drivers fitting it for the final laps following their sole pit stop. That was the case for Norris and Piastri, who finished second and third after starting on the Medium. Verstappen, last year’s winner, completed the race using the Medium-Hard combination.

STATISTICS

This is the 77th edition of the Italian Grand Prix, one of the longest-running races on the Formula 1 calendar. It has been held at Monza on every occasion except one, when it took place at Imola. The drivers with the most victories are Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, with five wins apiece, while Ferrari is the most successful team with 20 victories. Hamilton also holds the records for both pole positions at Monza (seven) and fastest laps (seven). Among the current drivers, Pierre Gasly claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory at the Temple of Speed, winning the 2020 Italian Grand Prix at the wheel of an AlphaTauri and delivering the team's first success under its new name.

Trophy’s photo: vedovamazzei with FRAGILE (2026), FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2026 trophy realized by artistic duo vedovamazzei (Simeone Crispino and Stella Scala) and commissioned by Pirelli with Pirelli HangarBicocca
Courtesy the artists
Photo A. Osio

Milan, 1 September 2026 – Pirelli has developed two dedicated tyre fitments for the new Bentley Supersports, the coupé engineered to deliver the ultimate driving experience. They are the P Zero Trofeo RS, designed to enhance the car's sporting character, particularly on track, and the P Zero, developed for everyday driving. To mark the centenary of the "Super Sports" name, first introduced in 1925, the Crewe-based manufacturer has once again chosen Pirelli as its partner to harness the capabilities of a car that is radically different from any previous Continental GT: rear-wheel drive for the first time in the model's history (excluding the Continental GT3 race car), kerb weight below two tonnes, and 666 hp, 800 Nm twin-turbocharged V8 powertrain.

Bespoke development for a truly unique Bentley

Pirelli's collaboration with Bentley on the Supersports began with the most demanding technical brief ever set for a road-going Continental GT. The switch to rear-wheel drive, the introduction of an electronic limited-slip differential combined with brake-based torque vectoring, active rear-wheel steering, and a chassis featuring a rear track widened by 16 mm required tyres capable of managing completely different load transfers and drive force distribution compared with the all-wheel-drive Continental GT Speed.

This is further complemented by the car's aerodynamic package, which generates more than 300 kg of additional downforce compared with the Continental GT Speed through a larger front splitter, dive planes, side skirts, rear wheel arch vents and a rear diffuser. These elements significantly alter the vertical load acting on the tyres as speed increases. Pirelli engineers therefore fine-tuned the compounds, construction and tread pattern through an extensive development program—starting with virtual simulations before progressing to road and track testing—in close collaboration with Bentley's engineering team. The objective was to deliver consistent performance across all driving modes specified by the manufacturer, from Touring to Sport.

The result is two dedicated homologations, both identified by the "B" marking reserved by Pirelli for tyres developed specifically for Bentley.

P Zero: the original equipment fitment

The 22-inch Pirelli P Zero is fitted to the Supersports as its original equipment tyre, designed to complement the car's everyday usability and grand touring capabilities without compromising the sporting character that defines it. Its construction and compound have been optimized to combine ride comfort, low noise levels and steering precision, while delivering grip levels commensurate with the car's power and weight. Although significantly lighter than the Continental GT, the Supersports places considerable demands on its tyres due to its exceptional performance.

The P Zero has been specifically tuned to work in harmony with the Supersports' suspension and dual-chamber dampers, ensuring precise responses and outstanding stability.

P Zero Trofeo RS: the choice for track driving

For customers seeking the ultimate performance, Pirelli has developed the first bespoke P Zero Trofeo RS ever for a Bentley. This 22-inch semi-slick tyre is road legal yet engineered with a clear track-focused philosophy, representing another milestone in the partnership between the two brands.

Drawing directly on Pirelli's motorsport expertise, the compound, carcass construction and internal reinforcements have been specifically designed to withstand the significant aerodynamic loads generated by the Supersports, allowing the car to express its full dynamic potential. Equipped with this fitment, the Supersports achieves peak lateral acceleration of 1.3 g and improves cornering speeds by approximately 30% compared with the Continental GT Speed.

One anecdote from the development program illustrates just how impressive the performance proved to be. During the first track test on P Zero Trofeo RS tyres, the level of lateral grip exceeded the parameters anticipated by the vehicle's electronic control systems, triggering the seat belt pretensioners.

The P Zero Trofeo RS therefore represents the intersection of Pirelli's road tyre engineering and its motorsport know-how, offered as an option for customers wishing to explore the Supersports' full capabilities with complete confidence and control.

Perfect Fit: the hallmark of Pirelli's bespoke development

Both tyre fitments have been developed through Pirelli's "Perfect Fit" programme, the co-development process through which the company designs bespoke tyres for individual vehicle models in close collaboration with manufacturers' engineering teams. Combining advanced virtual simulations with joint testing programmes, Perfect Fit enables every aspect of the tyre—from compound and construction to tread pattern and carcass stiffness—to be optimized for the specific characteristics of each vehicle, ensuring seamless integration between tyre and vehicle.

This latest development builds on the long-standing partnership between Pirelli and Bentley, over the many years of  the evolution of the Continental GT range which now enters a new chapter with the Supersports, the purest and most driver-focused Bentley ever produced.

The relationship dates back to the early 1980s, when the first dedicated tyres were developed for the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo R and RT. Pirelli has since engineered bespoke solutions for a wide range of Bentley models, from the Arnage and Continental GT to the Bentayga, for which specific 23-inch P Zero tyres were developed. Over the years, Pirelli has also supplied tyres for several Bentley racing programs, including the Continental GT3, contributing to the cars' success across multiple championships.

The partnership with the Crewe marque has also helped secure some of Bentley's most significant achievements, including the production SUV record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with the Bentley Bentayga in 2018, followed by the outright production car record with the Bentley Continental GT in 2019. Most recently, in 2024, the Continental GT Speed set a speed record inside a subsea tunnel in Norway.

Published on: 1 September 2026, 11:00 CET

New race benchmarks and a successful debut for the new front tyre

“The Aragon GP confirmed the significant progress seen in recent races in both categories, with overall performance and outright lap times setting new records even at a circuit that is particularly demanding on tyres. In Moto2™, the improvement was clear both in terms of lap times and over race distance, as the new race time was four tenths of a second faster and the race time was 8 seconds faster. While the choice of the SCX supersoft range compound at the rear was unanimous, introducing the new E1089 development specification to this race as an alternative to the SC1 soft range compound at the front proved to be a positive decision, as demonstrated by Guevara's second-place finish. He had appreciated its performance since the opening free practice sessions. This result, together with those achieved by the other riders who chose to race with this new specification and finished in strong positions, will allow us to gather valuable data as we continue our development work.
The progress was equally evident in the Moto3™ race, where almost the entire grid opted for the SC2 medium range compound on both axles. The figures speak for themselves: the race was as much as 18 seconds faster than last year's, with an improvement of more than one second per lap on average, as well as a new race lap record improved by more than two tenths of a second”.

A positive debut for the new Moto2™ front tyre

“MotorLand Aragón is a particularly demanding circuit for tyres, where tyres need to deliver balanced performance throughout every phase of the lap. In the opening sessions on Friday, the track surface was quite dirty, but as the circuit evolved, performance improved rapidly: the previous Moto2™ lap record was already broken in Practice and then lowered further in the following sessions, with Alonso López's pole position improving last year’s record by more than half a second. The SCX supersoft rear is softer than the E0125 soft development solution – now promoted to the SC0 range – which was the unanimous choice last year. This helped riders lower their lap times quickly. The new E1089 soft development front tyre, which features the same structure as the SC1 range tyre but a different compound, also provided positive feedback, as demonstrated by Izan Guevara’s second-place finish in qualifying, with the Spanish rider also comfortably beating the previous lap record. For tomorrow’s race, we expect around one third of the riders on the grid to choose this new solution, which has been particularly appreciated for its tendency to offer improved stability under braking as the race progresses, providing an interesting direct comparison with those who will instead opt for the SC1 range tyre.
In Moto3™, where a new lap record was set in the closing stages of qualifying, the medium SC2 compound is proving to be the most competitive option from a race perspective, both at the front and rear. Their combination of stability, durability and consistent performance makes them the most complete solution to emerge so far, which is why we expect the vast majority of riders to choose this option.”

For the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be hosted at Sepang from 2 to 4 October, the intermediate range comprising C2, C3 and C4 will instead be used. The Malaysian circuit places medium levels of stress on the tyres relative to the scale encompassing all tracks on the championship calendar.

The asphalt in Kuala Lumpur is particularly abrasive and has not been resurfaced since the last Formula 1 race held there in 2017. The decision not to use the hardest compounds is aimed at reducing the lap time differential between a one-stop and a two-stop race, thereby encouraging a wider range of potential race strategies.

Development focus on the front at Aragón
 
“At Aragón, we will focus on gathering data on the development work we are carrying out on the front tyres. Moto2™ riders will have a new front solution in the E1089 specification, which will be available alongside the SC1 soft from the range. It shares the same structure but differs through a new compound, which also belongs to the soft family. This new tyre has been designed to offer greater stability, particularly under braking: an especially important aspect at a circuit like Aragón, where braking zones are among the most demanding phases due to the characteristics of the track. 
With the SC1 from the range available as an alternative, riders will be able to make a direct comparison between the two solutions, which will be useful not only to assess their performance over the race weekend but also to further our development work.
There will also be new options at the rear compared with last year’s race, when Moto2™ had two soft-compound solutions available. This year we have decided to introduce the SCX supersoft from the range, which will be joined by the new SC0 soft from the range. One year ago in June, when it was still known as the E0125 development specification, the SC0 was unanimously chosen for the race. In light of the data collected at the recent Superbike round, the supersoft solution should offer riders improved performance, not only over a single lap but also over race distance”.