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.

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.

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

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.

Kimi Antonelli finished second, while his Mercedes team-mate George Russell completed the podium. The top ten finishers all followed different strategies, underlining the remarkable tactical variety on offer throughout the race.

In the opening stages, a red flag prompted several drivers to switch from their starting compound, with most having begun on Mediums and Softs. Norris, who started on Mediums, changed to Softs during the interruption before making two further pit stops, taking a set of Hards on each occasion.

Antonelli and Russell also started on Mediums, which they retained during the red flag period. Antonelli then made two pit stops for fresh sets of Hards before switching to a used set of Softs during a Virtual Safety Car phase. Russell followed a similar strategy, although he did not make his stop under the neutralisation.

Both Ferrari drivers chose to restart on Soft tyres, but the strategies of Lewis Hamilton (fourth) and Charles Leclerc (fifth) subsequently diverged. The Monegasque used all three available compounds, completing the race with stints on Medium, Hard and finally Soft. His team-mate, meanwhile, opted for a more straightforward approach, avoiding a final pit stop and contesting his third and fourth stints on Hard and Soft tyres respectively.

Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, secured two points by fitting a new set of Softs during the red flag before making just one further stop to switch to Hards. Thanks to this strategy, which allowed him to save a pit stop, he was able to finish the race in ninth place.

All three compounds were used during the race. Alonso completed the most laps on Softs, with a 32-lap stint. Arvid Lindblad covered 31 laps on Mediums, while Carlos Sainz completed 35 laps on Hards.

In the championship battle, Antonelli strengthened his lead, moving onto 242 points. Russell remains second on 183, while Lewis Hamilton is third, also on 183 points.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“The last race at Zandvoort proved full of twists and turns and highly unpredictable, particularly from a strategic perspective, with all three available compounds coming into play. The picture painted by the previous sessions ultimately proved inaccurate for the teams, forcing them to revise their approach to the Grand Prix in light of new variables and pushing them towards either two or three-stop strategies.

The weather played a significant role, with an unexpected rain shower before the start preventing the track from evolving as anticipated and altering the temperature profile, which was noticeably higher than during Saturday’s Sprint.

Tyre degradation, which had appeared relatively limited until the previous day, turned out to be significant, largely due to the increased wear caused by track conditions that had deteriorated and become particularly slippery following the rain.

After the stint following the restart, teams immediately realised that the conditions would not allow them to remain competitive with a one-stop strategy. Influenced by events on track as well, they therefore sought to identify the most effective tyre combinations for their drivers.

Following the first red flag, almost ten different strategies emerged, with notable variations even among the leading teams. For example, Lawson did not use the Hard compound, while McLaren opted not to fit the Medium again after the initial start. By contrast, other drivers, such as Leclerc, made use of all three available compounds.

As a result, we witnessed a highly engaging Grand Prix from a strategic standpoint, in which the teams were able to exploit the characteristics of each compound, all of which proved effective under specific conditions, identifying those best suited to maximising the strengths of their respective cars.

Particularly illustrative in this regard was the use of the Soft tyre by Antonelli and the two Ferrari drivers in the closing stages of the race, enabling them to make up ground on their direct rivals and, in the Italian’s case, even gain a position on his team-mate.”

At Zandvoort, Alisha Palmowski claimed her fourth victory of the 2026 F1 Academy season with a lights-to-flag win. The British Campos Racing driver, backed by Red Bull Racing, resisted constant pressure from Alba Larsen to remain in the lead all the way to the chequered flag. Larsen finished second, while Nina Gademan completed the podium, giving MP Motorsport two cars in the top three. After a less than perfect start, Palmowski steadily increased her advantage and won by almost three seconds from her Danish rival. Thanks to this success, the Briton further consolidated her championship lead, extending her advantage to 48 points ahead of the next round in Austin.

A few drops of rain in the closing minutes prompted teams to bring forward their runs. Track temperature hovered around 27°C, while the air temperature was 19°C. Similar conditions are expected for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

George Russell won the Sprint Race. The Briton kept Charles Leclerc behind him to take victory, with the Ferrari driver finishing second. Leclerc opted for a different strategy in the short race, running the Soft compound. Russell secured the win on the Medium tyre, which was also used by third-placed Lando Norris.

Only Oliver Bearman, like Leclerc, chose the Soft for the Sprint, while all the other drivers raced on the C3. As in qualifying, rain began to fall in the closing stages of today’s race, shortly before the chequered flag, but without affecting the final outcome.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented to Lando Norris by Maro Engel. The German driver currently leads the DTM championship, for which Pirelli has been the exclusive tyre supplier since 2023.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Ferrari’s and Haas’s decision to use the Soft tyre in today’s Sprint demonstrated that the red-marked compound could be an option for Sunday, alongside the Hard and Medium, which are likely to be the most popular choices. All three compounds are therefore in play for the race.

The C4 delivered the level of performance Leclerc needed to close in on Norris thanks to its superior grip, without any drop-off in pace over a longer stint. The relatively low temperatures also helped keep the compound within its optimal operating window. The Sprint further demonstrated how difficult overtaking can be at Zandvoort, an important factor when assessing how costly a pit stop may prove to be.

The quickest strategy is therefore a one-stop, starting on the Medium and running until laps 27-33 before switching to the Hard for the remainder of the race. An alternative, around one second slower, involves starting on the Soft, using it until the window between laps 26 and 32, and then finishing the race on the Hard.

In clean air, two-stop strategies also look competitive on paper, but it is necessary to take into account, as noted earlier, the limited overtaking opportunities available around the circuit.

A third stint could be considered in the event of a Virtual Safety Car or to take advantage of an undercut during the race, provided traffic conditions allow. The degradation levels recorded today, thermal in nature, were limited and, given that drivers are more likely to manage their tyres during the race, should not be decisive in determining strategy, at least for the two harder compounds.”

The reverse-grid F1 Academy race was won by Payton Westcott. The Mercedes driver held off Alba Larsen, who finished second, while Nina Gademan completed the podium in her home event. The Feature Race will take place on Sunday, with Alisha Palmowski starting from pole position.

Sprint Qualifying took place with track temperatures of around 30°C and ambient temperatures of approximately 22°C. Oscar Piastri will start tomorrow’s Sprint from fourth on the grid after ending the session less than a tenth of a second away from pole position. As stipulated by the regulations, all drivers set their best SQ3 times using a set of C4 tyres.

In SQ2, where drivers were required, as in SQ1, to run the Medium compound, the fastest times came from the two McLaren drivers: Oscar Piastri stopped the clock at 1:12.026, while Lando Norris completed the session in 1:12.189. The Sprint Qualifying Award was presented to Russell by Pirelli Motorsport Director Dario Marrafuschi.

During FP1, all drivers, with the exception of Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson, completed several laps on Intermediate tyres. However, track conditions improved rapidly, allowing the switch to slicks almost immediately, with all three available compounds being tested. Kimi Antonelli topped the session thanks to a lap of 1:12.949. Lando Norris set the second fastest time, while George Russell finished third.

The driver who completed the most laps on the Hard compound was Arvid Lindblad with 24; on the Medium, George Russell led the way with 27 laps, while on the Soft it was Alexander Albon who completed the most mileage, with 22 laps.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“Excluding a handful of installation laps on Intermediates, the first free practice session was devoted to evaluating all three compounds available for the weekend, with track conditions that, in terms of grip, proved better than expected following the rain. The Medium suffered more from surface abrasion than the Hard, but in general none of the options showed wear levels significant enough to compromise their performance life.

The grip provided by the Soft compound was considerable, also helped by track evolution towards the end of the session. The differing approaches taken by teams, either using a set of Hards during FP1 or keeping both sets in reserve, may offer an early indication that they are considering varying numbers of pit stops. Tyre degradation will play a key role, although at present it appears to be under control thanks to the low temperatures, as will the probability of a safety car, traditionally high at this circuit. In any case, we believe that all three compounds can be utilised in race strategies on Sunday.

The performance gap between the Medium and the Soft is around half a second, in line with our expectations from simulations, although those simulations indicated lap times roughly one second quicker. If the track does not reset overnight, we should therefore see a further improvement in performance as early as tomorrow.”

For the event in the Netherlands, the selected compounds are the C2, C3 and C4, the same choice as last year. Opting for a softer trio contributed to a two-stop race, aided by neutralisations, in which all the available compounds were used.

The track, situated just 40 km from Amsterdam, offers a low level of grip both because of the nature of its asphalt, which has been resurfaced in several sections over the years, and because of the sand blown onto the circuit from the nearby beaches. This phenomenon can reduce grip not only from one day to the next, but sometimes even from one session to another.

The Zandvoort circuit is particularly demanding on tyres in terms of energy density, owing to its short lap length and numerous corners, some of them taken at high speed. The two banked turns, with gradients of 19 and 18 degrees respectively, generate extremely high vertical and lateral forces on the tyres.

Teams therefore need to manage car setup carefully and, more generally, the interaction between car and tyres. The level of aerodynamic downforce required is high, very similar to that needed at Budapest, venue of the final round before the summer break.

The Dutch round has been brought forward by one week compared to 2025. In theory, thermal degradation should play a significant role in the middle of August, but temperatures at Zandvoort rarely exceed 20°C and rain is a frequent feature. In addition, the circuit’s proximity to the sea means strong gusts of wind are common, which could affect the drivers, especially with the new aerodynamic regulations.

With the Sprint format making its debut at Zandvoort, teams will have only one hour of free practice available to finalise their car setups. While the Hard is likely to be the reference compound for Sunday’s race, the two softer options could both prove effective choices for Saturday’s Sprint. Overtaking difficulty, caused by the presence of only one straight and the narrow track width, will also be an important factor in Grand Prix strategy.

IN 2025

All three compounds selected for the Grand Prix were used on the starting grid. Fourteen drivers opted to start on the Medium, four on the Soft and two on the Hard. The C2 was the most extensively used tyre during the race, mainly in the longest middle stint. Almost all drivers made a second pit stop by taking advantage of safety car restarts after lap 50, with most of them finishing the race on Soft tyres.

STATISTICS

The Dutch Grand Prix has always been held at the Zandvoort circuit. This year marks its 36th edition, the first race having taken place in 1952. The driver with the most victories at this track is Jim Clark (4), while Ferrari holds the record among constructors with eight wins. Local hero Max Verstappen has so far won three races here, the same number as Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda.

At Zandvoort, the same selection as last year has been confirmed for a circuit characterised by medium and low-speed corners, including two banked turns. The vertical and lateral forces acting on the tyres are high, as is the level of aerodynamic downforce required. The track surface offers a relatively low level of grip, further affected by sand from the nearby beaches being blown onto the circuit by the wind.

The Monza circuit, resurfaced a couple of years ago, requires low-downforce car configurations. The time lost in the pit lane during a tyre change is among the highest of the season. As a result, teams will look to extend their stints while managing degradation in an effort to complete the race with a one-stop strategy. However, high temperatures could make that approach more difficult to execute.

The race to be held on Madrid’s semi-permanent street circuit will make its debut on the Formula 1 calendar as the Spanish Grand Prix. The tyre compound selection has been determined on the basis of simulations carried out using data and characteristics from the new track, which features 22 highly varied corners, significant elevation changes and the longest banked corner on the calendar.

Our analysis of the Madring indicates that the loads acting on the tyres are comparable to those seen at circuits such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. The choice of the medium range is therefore intended, based on the characteristics of the track, to favour a two-stop strategy and provide greater protection against the risk of excessive overheating in the event of high temperatures, a situation to which the softest compound in the range would be more susceptible.

Norris started on Mediums before completing two further stints on Hards. Taking advantage of a Virtual Safety Car period, the world champion made an additional pit stop and fitted Soft tyres.

Verstappen, by contrast, stayed out on a set of C5s, completing the final 29 laps on that compound. However, he was not the driver who extracted the most mileage from the red-marked tyre: that distinction went to Fernando Alonso, who completed 34 laps on the Soft compound.

Lance Stroll completed the highest number of laps on the Medium, using the same set for 29 laps, while Arvin Lindblad reached 49 laps on the Hard. All three compounds were used extensively throughout the race, providing a range of strategic options.

Twelve drivers opted for a two-stop strategy. These included both Mercedes and Red Bull pairings, who started on Medium tyres and then switched to Hards for their remaining two stints, with the exception of Verstappen, who completed his final stint on Softs.

Five drivers, meanwhile, finished the race with a three-stop strategy, including both Ferrari drivers, who started on Softs, ran the middle phases of the race on the C3, and took the chequered flag once again on the C5. Bortoleto and Lindblad were the only two drivers to make a one-stop strategy work, the former following a Soft-Hard approach and the latter a Medium-Hard strategy.

The race took place in warmer conditions than those recorded yesterday: track temperatures exceeded 49°C, while ambient temperatures peaked at 34°C. Antonelli now leads the championship with 219 points, followed by Hamilton in second on 169.

Pirelli will remain in Budapest for two days of testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, carrying out development work on next season’s tyres together with Alpine, Audi and Aston Martin. The latter, unlike the other two teams, will be on track only on the opening day.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Today we witnessed a wide variety of strategies, with every team able to make use of the full range of compounds available. The impression is that each team managed to identify the most effective combination to maximise the characteristics of its own car.

These were precisely some of the objectives we had set ourselves during the development phase. To create a range capable of adapting as effectively as possible to cars that have followed different development paths, offering greater strategic variety and enabling even the softer compounds to be used effectively.

Several teams made extensive use of the C5 today, which this year has once again proved to be a genuine race tyre and not just an option for fast laps on Saturday. This is demonstrated by the Soft stints of more than 29 laps completed by as many as five drivers.

In the end, the race was contested between one-stop and three-stop strategies. Among the top teams, only Ferrari chose to start on the Soft and, by bringing Hamilton into the pits at the first available opportunity, effectively triggered the sequence of pit stops among its rivals, prompting several others to converge on a two-stop strategy.

This approach offered greater tactical flexibility and a faster ability to react in a race made particularly complex by traffic and the high number of backmarkers to manage after each pit stop.

While Ferrari demonstrated particular effectiveness in extracting performance from the red-marked tyre, Mercedes appeared to base its approach around the Hard compound, which was also selected for the final stint. It was a decision taken shortly before the Virtual Safety Car, which instead gave others the opportunity to make an additional tyre change.

Despite the high temperatures, degradation across all three compounds remained broadly in line with expectations. Drivers mainly had to manage the rear tyres, the principal limiting factor in the traction phases, without significantly compromising race pace, thanks in part to the circuit's continuous evolution throughout the day.”

FORMULA 2

By the narrowest of margins, Noel Leon claimed victory in the Formula 2 Championship Feature Race at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Kush Maini finished second, while Rafael Camara crossed the line in third place. Leon started on the Soft compound before switching to the Medium on lap 16. Maini and Camara adopted the same strategy, making the move to the Medium on laps 21 and 20 respectively. Nikola Tsolov heads into the summer break leading the championship standings on 167 points, ahead of Gabriele Minì in second place with 147 points.

FORMULA 3

The Formula 3 Championship Feature Race at the Hungaroring was won by Freddie Slater. Ugo Ugochukwu finished second, while Brando Badoer secured the final podium position in third. Thanks to this victory, Slater has extended his advantage in the championship battle and now holds an eight-point lead over Ugochukwu, who sits second in the standings. The next round of the Formula 3 Championship will take place at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

All teams, with the exception of Ferrari, used only Soft tyres. The Maranello-based squad opted for the Medium compound during the opening phase of qualifying. Hamilton completed three laps on the C4, while Leclerc covered eight laps on the yellow-banded tyre before both switched to the C5.

Using four sets of Soft tyres, Norris managed to beat his rivals with his final flying lap. The McLaren driver had also been quickest in the third free practice session, where, as in qualifying, the C5 was the most widely used compound.

Only Liam Lawson and the Aston Martin and Audi drivers used a set of Medium tyres in FP3. Nico Hülkenberg and Lawson completed the highest number of laps on the yellow-banded compound, with 15 laps each.

Norris’s best time in FP3 was a 1:17.939. Hamilton finished in 1:18.056, ahead of Kimi Antonelli, who was third on 1:18.068. The highest temperatures of the day were recorded during this session, with track temperatures peaking at 53°C and air temperatures at 29°C. Forecasts for tomorrow indicate a further, albeit slight, increase.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented to Norris by Michelle Gulyás. The Hungarian athlete won the gold medal in the modern pentathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, setting a new world record in the discipline.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Our simulations show no difference in overall race time between a one-stop and a two-stop strategy for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Degradation, which has been higher than expected, has effectively brought the two strategic options into line, allowing teams to evaluate different scenarios depending on the new sets they have preserved up to this point.

In both FP3 and qualifying, as was already the case during yesterday’s first two sessions, some teams followed a different approach from the rest by using an additional set of Medium tyres. The yellow-banded tyre is still likely to be the preferred compound for the start. Those opting for a one-stop strategy could then complete the race on the Hard compound, with the pit stop window falling between laps 26 and 32.

In the case of a two-stop strategy, however, given that only two teams still have two new sets of C4s available, it is more likely that the final stints will be run on the Hard compound, with pit stop windows between laps 16 and 22 for the first stop and laps 40 and 46 for the second. As highlighted yesterday, traffic and the difficulty of overtaking remain key factors and could encourage several teams to favour a one-stop approach.

The use of the Soft tyre cannot be ruled out either, as it has demonstrated good levels of grip and sufficient durability. Around ten seconds slower than the two main strategies are the Soft-Hard-Medium and Medium-Hard-Soft combinations. Drivers able to build a gap over their rivals may be able to make an additional stop without the risk of losing position, while others could use the undercut to their advantage. The situation therefore remains open and it would not be surprising to see different strategies even between drivers from the same team.”

FORMULA 2

Gabriele Minì won the Formula 2 Sprint Race. The Italian started from second on the grid and went on to take victory. Dino Beganovic finished second, while Laurens van Hoepen completed the podium in third. Minì also set the fastest lap of the race, collecting valuable points in the championship battle. In Sunday’s Feature Race, Kush Maini will start from pole position after setting the fastest time in Friday’s qualifying session.

FORMULA 3

Théophile Naël won the Sprint Race in Hungary. The Campos driver started from sixth position but fought his way to the front during the race. Kanato Le finished second, while Ernesto Rivera crossed the line in third place.

In FP1, the majority of drivers opted for the Medium (C4) tyre for their initial runs, while only the two Cadillacs and the Aston Martins took to the track on the Hard (C3). Towards the end of the session, Leclerc set the benchmark time on the Soft (C5), stopping the clocks at 1:19.075. The Monegasque also led the way on the C4 with a lap of 1:20.287.

In the second session, it was Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton who finished on top with a time of 1:18.729, again set on the Soft compound. He was followed by Leclerc and Lando Norris, both also running on the red-walled tyre. The seven-time World Champion was also the fastest driver on the Medium in the same session, posting a 1:19.585.

During the opening phase of FP2, the focus was largely on the Hard and Medium tyres. Alex Albon completed the highest number of laps on a set of C3s, covering 26 tours, while George Russell and Valtteri Bottas each managed 23 laps on the C4. Among those who ran the Soft, Leclerc was the most productive, completing 18 laps on the C5.

Ambient temperatures remained around 25°C, while track temperatures peaked at 46°C. Very similar conditions are expected for tomorrow’s qualifying session.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“We will get a clearer picture tomorrow once the teams have completed their analysis of today’s data, but the indications from the opening two hours of free practice suggest there is still uncertainty over the number of pit stops we are likely to see in Sunday’s race. Six teams have retained two sets of Hard tyres, while all the others have already used at least one, a sign that there is not yet a unanimous view on the best way to tackle the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Given the higher level of degradation observed during the second session, when the drivers pushed harder, a two-stop strategy appears capable of offering an advantage over a one-stop race. However, the difficulty of overtaking at the Hungaroring must also be taken into account, as track position remains a decisive factor at this circuit.

Track grip was relatively low throughout the day, and the Soft proved to be the compound that best showcased the performance of the cars, thanks to the greater mechanical grip it delivered from the very first laps. By contrast, the Medium showed a degree of graining on the front-left tyre.

In general, protecting the rear axle is crucial at this circuit, while managing an inevitable level of front tyre degradation, which should nevertheless decrease as the track continues to evolve over the course of the weekend. The performance gap between the Soft and Medium compounds was around eight tenths of a second, in line with pre-event simulations. Attention now turns to the opening phase of qualifying tomorrow, where it will not be easy for the drivers to identify the optimal window for both the preparation lap and the flying lap on such a short circuit.”

In the FIA garages today, the new official FIA Formula 1® Safety Car made its debut: the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, fitted with bespoke P Zero R tyres.

Specifically developed for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, recently unveiled as the first-ever Official FIA F1® Safety Car with fully variable all-wheel drive, the new Pirelli P Zero R is an ultra-high-performance tyre engineered to deliver outstanding track performance and precise steering feel, while also ensuring confident handling in wet conditions.

This double capability is the result of a bespoke dual-tread compound and a tread pattern specifically tuned for this car, developed by Pirelli using Virtual Design techniques in close collaboration with Mercedes-AMG engineers.

The tyre – the first P Zero R tailor-made for a Mercedes-AMG – underwent extensive testing at the Nürburgring and Nardò, with Bernd Mayländer and other expert Safety Car drivers, who praised the tyre’s consistent performance and grip across a wide range of conditions.

FORMULA 2

For the second time this Formula 2 season, Kush Maini claimed pole position. The ART Grand Prix driver was marginally quicker than Rafael Camara, who qualified second. As a result, the championship leader will start Sunday’s race from the front row in P2. Noel León secured third place. Before that, however, attention turns to Saturday’s Sprint Race, in which the top 10 qualifiers will line up on the reversed grid. The compounds selected for the Hungarian weekend are the Medium and Soft, the same choice as last year. In the 2025 Feature Race, eight drivers started on the Medium tyre and fourteen on the Soft.

FORMULA 3

With a lap of 1:33.411, Tuukka Taponen secured pole position in Formula 3 on Friday. The Finn narrowly edged out Freddie Slater, who posted a time of 1:33.451. Mattia Colnaghi stopped the clocks at 1:33.475 to claim the third-fastest time. The Medium compound has been selected for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

The circuit measures 4.381 kilometres and features 14 corners. It is often compared to a kart track due to its short length and twisty nature. There is only one real straight, coinciding with the start-finish line, which represents one of the few overtaking opportunities. For the rest, drivers are challenged by numerous corners, some of them 180°, which are negotiated 70 times over the course of the race. For this reason, car setups are usually very similar to those used at Monaco.

Just like in the Principality, the three softest compounds in the range will also be used in Budapest. C3, C4 and C5 are the ideal selection for a slow track where traction and braking stability are crucial to tackle direction changes. The surface has pronounced roughness due to the age of the sections that have not been renewed, and grip levels are among the lowest of the season, with significant track evolution over the weekend.

Track temperatures at the Hungaroring are typically the highest recorded throughout the season. Thermal degradation is therefore one of the main factors influencing tyre performance, particularly on the rear axle due to the prevalence of traction phases. Graining may also appear on the softer compounds.

Tyre degradation is expected to bring one-stop and two-stop strategies closer together in terms of overall race time. The choice between the two will also be influenced by track position considerations, on a circuit where overtaking can prove difficult. With very high temperatures, teams are likely to favour the two hardest compounds.

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Pirelli will remain in Budapest with Aston Martin, Audi and Alpine for two days of testing, on Tuesday and Wednesday, to develop next season’s tyres.

IN 2025

All three compounds played a role in last year’s race. Most drivers opted to start on the Medium, while three lined up on Softs and two on Hards. Half of the grid completed the race with a single stop, while the remaining classified drivers made two pit stops before the chequered flag. The reduced thermal degradation, aided by cooler temperatures, helped make the one-stop strategy as competitive as the two-stop, which on paper was quicker.

STATISTICS

The Hungarian Grand Prix reaches its 41st edition. All races have been held at the Hungaroring, on the outskirts of Budapest, continuously from 1986 to the present day. The driver with the most victories at this track is Lewis Hamilton with eight wins, four more than Michael Schumacher. McLaren, with 13 victories, is the most successful constructor in Budapest. Three drivers on the current grid have taken their maiden Formula 1 victory in Hungary: Fernando Alonso in 2003 with Renault, Esteban Ocon in 2021 with Alpine, also the team’s first win, and Oscar Piastri in 2024 with McLaren.

Following George Russell’s retirement, Antonelli strengthened his lead in the championship battle over his closest rival and team-mate. Russell was also overtaken today by Lewis Hamilton, who finished the Grand Prix in fourth place and is now 45 points off the lead, five more than Russell.

All compounds were used today, with the majority of drivers opting to start on Mediums. Lando Norris instead lined up on Hards and did not pit until lap 30 to switch to the C3. However, he was not the driver to complete the most laps on the C2: Valtteri Bottas ran 31 laps on the white-marked tyre before finishing the race on Softs.

The C4, meanwhile, was used extensively by Carlos Sainz, who started from the back of the grid in an attempt to recover positions. The Williams driver completed 14 laps on the Soft before switching to the Hard.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“All three compounds played a role in the Belgian Grand Prix strategies, with few variations between the teams and all broadly within the scenarios already anticipated yesterday.

“Tyre degradation was lower than in previous days because track temperatures, partly due to a few drops of rain, were cooler than those recorded earlier in the weekend. This allowed drivers to extend their stints.

“Only Ferrari opted to deviate slightly from the strategies of its direct rivals, extending the opening stint on Mediums while waiting for a neutralisation, which ultimately came. This enabled the team to save time during the pit stop and fit the Hard tyres to both drivers on the same lap.

“No one, with the exception of Sainz and Bottas, chose to start on Softs, a strategy which, in our view, could have offered some benefit to cars in the second half of the grid if combined with a slightly earlier stop to exploit the undercut. From a strategic standpoint, despite the presence of a Safety Car and a VSC, the race proved fairly straightforward.”

FORMULA 2

Rafael Câmara won the Feature Race in Belgium. With this victory, the Invicta driver claimed his second long race win of the season. Câmara started on the Supersoft compound before switching to Mediums. The second-placed driver, Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, and third-placed Nikola Tsolov adopted the same strategy. Thanks to his third-place finish, the Bulgarian maintains the lead in the championship standings.

FORMULA 3

Ernesto Rivera secured his first Feature Race victory in the Formula 3 championship. The Mexican managed to keep Hiyu Yamakoshi behind him throughout the race at Spa-Francorchamps. Freddie Slater finished third. Thanks to his podium result, Slater has closed the gap in the title fight and now sits just one point behind championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu.

Antonelli completed 15 laps, stopping the clock at 1:44.361. Verstappen recorded a best time of 1:44.678 across 12 laps, while Norris set a 1:44.801 after 11 laps in qualifying. All drivers used the Soft C4 compound exclusively. The top three each used four sets of tyres.

The Italian driver had already impressed in the third free practice session, finishing fastest with a time of 1:45.990 ahead of Norris and Verstappen. Among the top three, the McLaren driver was the only one to use the Medium compound as well, a choice also made by Hadjar and both Alpine drivers.

Track conditions were slightly warmer in qualifying compared to FP3. Track temperature reached 38.5°C, compared to 36°C recorded in the morning session. Ambient temperature remained stable at around 21°C throughout the day.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by Barry Baltus. The Belgian Moto2 rider competes for the REDS Fantic Racing team, the reigning world champions in the category.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Everything suggests that tomorrow’s race will be a one-stop, with strategy mainly determined by the new tyre sets available to each team. The opening stint could be completed on either the Medium or the Soft, depending on which new sets teams have chosen to keep.

“The top teams may start on the C3 before switching to the Hard between laps 17 and 23. Those who have saved a new set of C4 could instead use it at the start, bringing their stop forward into the 14 to 20 lap window.

“The Soft was extensively tested during the first hour of free practice and, on some cars, appears to give drivers better feedback under braking. For this reason, it could be preferred, also thanks to the grip advantage it offers.

“Two-stop strategies are approximately eight to ten seconds slower. Possible options include Soft-Hard-Hard and Soft-Hard-Medium. As already noted yesterday, some teams have kept an additional set of C2 as a precaution, which could prove useful to have a fresh tyre available in the event of a neutralisation.

“Tyre behaviour is in line with our expectations. Lap times are also now close to simulations, with just a one tenth gap between the pole time and our projections. The track has evolved quickly and thermal degradation on the rear axle is now the only factor that will need to be taken into account during the race.”

FORMULA 2

Joshua Duerksen won the Sprint race at Spa-Francorchamps. Martinius Stenshorne finished second, just six tenths behind, while Dino Beganovic completed the podium in third place. Championship leader Nikola Tsolov crossed the line in fourth. With the exception of Noel Leon, who opted for the Supersoft compound, all drivers started on Medium tyres. The Feature race is scheduled for tomorrow, with Rafael Camara starting from pole position.

FORMULA 3

The Formula 3 Sprint race was won by Jin Nakamura. The Hitech driver managed to hold off Brando Badoer and Pedro Clerot at Spa-Francorchamps. Badoer had started from pole position but had to give way to the Japanese driver during the sprint race. He finished less than one second behind the winner. The Feature race is scheduled for Sunday.

During FP2, held with track temperatures of 37°C and air temperatures of 25°C, drivers used only the Medium C3 and Soft C4 compounds. The number of laps completed was generally lower than usual due to the red flag caused by Gasly, which interrupted the second free practice session. Antonelli and Norris stopped at 17 laps, while Verstappen reached 20.

In the first session, some teams also used the Hard C2. Audi, Alpine and Cadillac opted for this choice, before switching to Softs later in FP1. The rest of the field focused exclusively on the C3 and C4. Max Verstappen set the fastest time with a 1:47.070, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Temperatures were higher, with a peak of 43°C on track.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“The rain that fell overnight and throughout the day significantly reduced track grip, increasing lap times compared to both our and the teams’ expectations. If there is no further precipitation, the track will gradually rubber in and return to the anticipated levels. Despite the interruption in the second hour of free practice, teams should have gathered sufficient data to tackle the weekend.

“Degradation was slightly higher than initial expectations on the two softest compounds, on both axles: on the front due to abrasion, and on the rear due to thermal effects. We do not expect this phenomenon to recur over the coming days, when temperatures will be lower and the track conditions improved. The delta between Medium and Soft is between four and five tenths, in line with simulations.

“The Hard compound was used by only a few teams in FP1. Many teams therefore chose to preserve two sets of the hardest compound. It is interesting to consider the reason, given that a one-stop race on Sunday appears very likely. The additional set could represent a valuable joker in the event of a neutralisation during the Grand Prix, should a first stop have already been made.”

FORMULA 2

For Sunday’s Feature Race, Rafael Câmara will start from pole position. The Brazilian edged out Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak in the fight for pole. Behind them, Alexander Dunne set the third fastest time. The top three were covered by less than two tenths of a second.

There is a compound step in the selection for the Spa-Francorchamps weekend. On paper, the fastest strategy for the Feature Race involves using Mediums in the first stint and Supersofts in the second. However, it will be crucial to factor in any Safety Car interventions, which could make the reverse strategy more competitive.

FORMULA 3

Freddie Slater secured pole position for the second consecutive time, this time at Spa-Francorchamps. Despite rain affecting the session, Slater set a time of 2:05.150, almost three tenths quicker than second-placed Tuukka Taponen. The third fastest time was recorded by Hiyu Yamakoshi. The chosen compound for the Belgian weekend is the Medium.

The circuit is the longest on the calendar, at 7.004 kilometres, and is one of the most beloved for its history, having been part of the World Championship since 1950, and for its layout, characterised by long straights, high-speed corners and the greatest elevation change of the entire season. There is also an element of unpredictability in an event that is already extremely demanding from both a technical and driving perspective.

The track is set in the Ardennes forest, which has a very particular microclimate compared to the rest of the region. In case of bad weather, rain-laden clouds take longer to clear the area, leaving the circuit damp and affecting the asphalt conditions. When it rains, drivers often encounter sections of the track that are dry and others that remain wet, making tyre choice particularly delicate, between slicks and intermediates.

For this challenge, Pirelli has brought the C2, C3 and C4 compounds. Spa-Francorchamps ranks among the most demanding circuits for tyres in terms of loads and forces, though not reaching the levels of Suzuka or Silverstone. The most iconic section is undoubtedly the stretch from Eau Rouge to the Raidillon climb. Here, corners follow one another in quick succession and in opposite directions while the track rises, before leading onto the Kemmel Straight. This section now features grooves in the asphalt designed to improve water drainage and visibility in wet conditions.

The track was completely resurfaced a couple of years ago and, in the early days of the weekend, generally offers a relatively low level of grip. Grip levels may improve thanks to the recent GT racing weekend, with the 24 Hours of Spa leaving additional rubber on the track.

The three sectors of the circuit each have very different characteristics and have always posed a setup puzzle for teams. The first is the fastest and includes a long straight where overtaking is common; the second is more technical, with medium-speed corners, many of which are downhill; the third is more flowing and develops on a gentle uphill gradient.

This year, the introduction of new aerodynamics should make it easier to find the right compromise in terms of downforce. The cars will be able to run higher downforce configurations for the more technical sections while benefiting from straight-line mode on the straights. As seen at Silverstone, the drivers’ ability to manage and efficiently recharge the power unit will also be crucial.

Temperatures could also have a significant influence on the weekend and race strategies. During the 24 Hours of Spa, held at the end of June, track temperatures exceeded 55°C. With such high values, it is plausible that thermal tyre degradation will increase, raising the likelihood of two-stop strategies. In any case, the two hardest compounds in the range are expected to be the protagonists in Sunday’s race.

IN 2025

Last year, rain caused a delay of over an hour to the start of the race. After a formation lap, the procedure was halted due to poor visibility. When it resumed, following four laps behind the Safety Car, the Grand Prix restarted with all drivers on intermediate tyres. From lap 11 onwards, all cars switched to Mediums, with the sole exception of Norris, who ran on Hards. Only six drivers, at the back of the field, made a second stop.

STATISTICS

This year’s event will be the 71st Belgian Grand Prix to be held. The circuit has hosted 58 editions of the race, which has also taken place at Zolder for 10 years and at Nivelles for two. The driver with the most victories in the Belgian Grand Prix is Michael Schumacher, with six wins. The German claimed his first Formula 1 victory at Spa in 1992, driving for Benetton. Lewis Hamilton and Ayrton Senna follow with five wins each. Scuderia Ferrari is the most successful constructor at the event, with 18 victories, three more than McLaren.

The initial strategy planned by most teams was a one-stop, but two neutralisations in the closing stages forced all drivers to make at least two pit stops. The entire grid started on C2 before switching to the Hard compound.

Most of the front-runners opted to fit the Soft for the final stint. Russell, however, had already switched from Hard to Medium during his second stop and therefore chose to prioritise track position, bringing the race to a close on the yellow-marked tyre.

As the race ended behind the Safety Car, the drivers who had chosen the C3 were unable to fully exploit its performance potential.

Kimi Antonelli completed the highest number of laps on the Medium, covering 35 laps on the C2, while Oscar Piastri recorded the longest stint on the Hard with 34 laps. The greatest number of laps on the Soft, 12, was completed by Alexander Albon.

Despite finishing outside the points, Antonelli retains the lead in the Drivers’ Championship with 179 points. The Italian is ahead of his team-mate, now on 154, while Lewis Hamilton occupies third place with 147 points.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

All teams converged today on a single strategy, the same one our simulations had identified as the quickest. Up until the first Virtual Safety Car, therefore, the Grand Prix did not show significant variation from this perspective, aside from the timing of the switch from Medium to Hard.

The early pit stops by some drivers were also influenced by the level of tyre degradation, which in the opening phase of the race proved higher than observed in previous days, partly due to the higher temperatures recorded on Sunday.

With the first neutralisation, some attempted to take advantage of increased grip by fitting a new set of C2. However, it was the final Safety Car that not only introduced the widespread use of the softest compound, the C3, but also determined the order of the podium finishers.

George Russell was able to secure second place having already made his second pit stop due to debris, while the two Ferrari drivers stopped to fit Soft tyres, anticipating a restart that ultimately did not take place.

Pirelli’s commitment at Silverstone does not end today. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will return to the track, with the support of Mercedes and Williams, for two further days of development testing aimed at defining the construction of next season’s slick tyres.

FORMULA 2

Nikola Tsolov made history in Formula 2. The Campos driver secured three consecutive victories in the championship, a feat never previously achieved in the series. Rafael Villagomez finished second, adopting a strategy completely opposite to Tsolov’s. Tsolov started on the soft compound before switching to hard on lap six. Villagomez, by contrast, opted to start on hard and then move onto soft in the latter part of the race. Kush Maini finished in third position. Tsolov leads the championship with 141 points, followed by Gabriele Minì in second place on 124 points.

FORMULA 3

Matteo De Palo claimed his first victory in the Formula 3 Championship. Maciej Gladysz finished second, while James Wharton secured third. After the race, several penalties were applied, resulting in a final top three that differed from the order in which the drivers crossed the line. Ugo Ugochukwu retains the championship lead with 97 points, while Freddie Slater sits in second place with 78 points.

The poleman recorded a time of 1:28.111. Leclerc stopped the clock at 1:28.286, while Hamilton completed his best lap in 1:28.458, all three using the Soft compound. Across the three qualifying sessions, Antonelli used six sets of C3 tyres, four of them new. Both Ferrari drivers, meanwhile, used five sets, with just one used set. Only the Audi drivers ran a set of Mediums C2 in Q1, while the rest of the field relied exclusively on the C3 compound.

In the morning, Antonelli managed to overtake Lewis Hamilton, who had taken pole position on Friday, thereby also securing victory in the Sprint. Lando Norris crossed the line in third place. All three drivers contested the short race on the Medium compound. Only the two Aston Martin drivers and Bottas opted to use the C3.

Today, track temperature peaked at 40 °C during qualifying, while air temperature reached 27 °C. No significant changes in weather conditions are expected for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented to Kimi Antonelli by Maduka Okoye, goalkeeper for Udinese and the Nigeria national team.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

All the compounds available this weekend have proven to be valid options for shaping tomorrow’s race strategies. The levels of degradation recorded today were, overall, lower than expected, likely also thanks to the way current cars manage energy at this circuit. For this reason, according to our simulations, the one-stop strategy is around 13 seconds quicker than a two-stop.

The vast majority of teams used the Medium compound for the Sprint, and we expect the C2 to be the most common choice for the start of the Grand Prix as well. The yellow tyre has shown sufficiently consistent performance and can offer good strategic flexibility in the event of race neutralisation.

The fastest strategy involves using the C2 in the opening phase of the race, then switching to the Hard between laps 24 and 30. A possible alternative is the Medium–Soft combination, with a pit stop scheduled between laps 29 and 35. Alternatively, a strategy starting on the Hard followed by a stint on Medium could be chosen, or beginning the race on the Soft and finishing on the Hard.

FORMULA 2

Nikola Tsolov won the Formula 2 Sprint race at Silverstone. On the final lap, he managed to overtake Gabriele Minì, who finished second. Rafael Villagómez came home in third place. All drivers raced on the hard compound. Tomorrow, the feature race is scheduled, with Rafael Câmara starting from pole position.

FORMULA 3

The Formula 3 Sprint race at Silverstone was won by Ugo Ugochukwu. The Campos driver delivered a dominant performance, crossing the line with a 17-second margin over runner-up Yevan David. Behind David, Théophile Naël finished in third place. Tomorrow, Freddie Slater will start from pole position for the feature race.

As required by the regulations, drivers were mandated to use a set of Mediums in SQ1, a second set of Mediums in SQ2 and a set of Softs in SQ3. Among the ten drivers who reached the final session, all completed a three-lap stint on the softest compound.

Hamilton had already been quickest in the first free practice session, setting a time of 1'29"260 on Soft tyres. Earlier, he had completed 21 laps on the Hards, spread across three different stints, before returning to the C1 at the end of the session. Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc finished FP1 in second and third place respectively.

Ambient temperatures remained around 25°C, while track temperature peaked at 42°C during the first free practice session. Forecasts indicate similar weather conditions for Saturday and for Sunday’s race.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR 

The Silverstone weekend has got underway in line with expectations on the tyre front, while the home crowd enjoyed a welcome surprise thanks to a British favourite securing Sprint pole position. The first part of the sole hour of free practice allowed teams to become familiar with the C1, a compound that, prior to Silverstone, had only been used at Suzuka. The C2 and C3, on the other hand, were mainly used for performance runs, enabling teams to gather useful data ahead of the rest of the weekend.

In both of today’s sessions, degradation proved to be in line with our expectations, and the initial performance delta observed between Medium and Soft, at equal fuel loads, was around four tenths, approximately a tenth less than indicated by simulations. It will be interesting to see tomorrow which compounds come into play in the Sprint race, because, at this stage, even the Soft appears capable of being among the competitive options, particularly for those starting from the second half of the grid.

FORMULA 2

Rafael Camara will start from pole position in Sunday’s Formula 2 race. The Brazilian was the fastest in Friday’s qualifying session, finishing just over two tenths ahead of second-placed Alex Dunne. At Silverstone, Kush Maini set the third fastest time and will therefore start third on Sunday. Tomorrow, for the Sprint race, drivers will line up with the grid reversed.

FORMULA 3

Freddie Slater secured pole position on Friday in Great Britain. Slater edged out Theophile Nael, who set the second fastest time, while Louis Sharp recorded the third quickest lap. The Formula 3 Sprint race is also scheduled for tomorrow.

For the Hungarian Grand Prix, from 24 to 26 July, the last before the summer break, the softest trio of compounds has instead been chosen: C3, C4 and C5. The level of forces at the Hungaroring is not particularly high in absolute terms, but the short length of the circuit leads to significant accumulation over each lap. In terms of degradation, the high temperatures that typically represent the seasonal peak in Budapest must also be taken into account.

The British and Italian rounds are the only two races to have been held uninterrupted every year since the championship began in 1950, retaining the same title. The very first Formula 1 race at Silverstone was won on Pirelli Stella Bianca tyres by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo.

The upcoming event will be the 77th edition of the British Grand Prix, the 60th under this name at Silverstone, and the 518th race in which Pirelli has been present in the championship. The track, located north of Northampton, is one of the most frequently used in the motorsport world. The circuit is 5.891 km long and the last major revision to its layout took place in 2010, when a new section between Abbey and Brooklands was introduced.

Today, the track features 18 corners (10 right-handers and 8 left-handers) some of which generate very high lateral forces, with rapid direction changes at high speed. Sequences such as Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel, combined with the straights, led Lewis Hamilton, the driver with the most wins at Silverstone, to say that driving here is like being in the cockpit of a fighter jet.

The selection for the weekend consists of the hardest compounds in the range. C1, C2 and C3 have been chosen due to the high severity of the circuit, which causes tyre degradation. The accelerations reached in some sections exceed 5g, similar to what is seen at Suzuka and Spa. The front axle is the most stressed, with the left-front tyre particularly prone to wear due to the predominance of right-hand corners.

The track surface is not abrasive and has relatively low roughness. It already offers a good level of grip thanks to the continuous use of the circuit throughout the year for both two- and four-wheel competitions.

Taking all factors into account, we expect teams to attempt to complete Sunday’s race with a one-stop strategy, using the two compounds with greater grip, C2 and C3. The latter is the only option that has shown some light graining in past years, while C1 and C2 have proved to be more mechanically consistent. The white-hard tyre is very likely to be used in FP1, as this year the weekend features a Sprint format.

Wet tyres may also come into play in Britain. For two consecutive years, it has rained on Sunday, leading drivers to use the Cinturato Intermediate tyres. The British weather is famously unpredictable, and even in summer, showers are not uncommon.

On the Tuesday and Wednesday following the race weekend, Pirelli will remain at Silverstone for development testing of next year’s dry-weather tyres, supported by Mercedes and Williams.

IN 2025

Last year’s Grand Prix featured variable weather and, throughout the first half of the race, the Cinturato Intermediate tyres were used. At the start of the formation lap, all drivers were on the green wet tyres, but before the actual start five cars switched to slicks. Rain then returned to the circuit, forcing everyone back onto intermediates. In the closing stages, conditions allowed for slicks again, with Medium and Soft compounds chosen by most drivers to reach the chequered flag.

STATISTICS

A 76-year journey through history is required to review the roll of honour of the British Grand Prix. The race has been held at Silverstone 59 times and has also taken place at Aintree for five years and Brands Hatch for twelve. The driver with the most wins at Silverstone is Lewis Hamilton with nine victories. Jim Clark and Alain Prost are next with five British Grand Prix wins each. Scuderia Ferrari holds the record among constructors with 18 wins, three more than McLaren.

THE TROPHIES

The British Grand Prix podium trophy was created by artist Paul Oz on commission from Pirelli. Starting from a digital model of a Formula 1 car’s front wing, the sculptor has shaped an organic composition in which the various elements combine to evoke the evolution of the Silverstone circuit from former airfield to modern race track. The British flag takes form through structural aluminium elements, a material historically associated with aviation, while the red and blue inserts of the Union Flag are made from carbon fibre, an iconic material of modern Formula 1 engineering, thus creating a material dialogue between past and innovation.

The Marshal Award, which will be presented to a representative of the marshals before Sunday’s drivers’ parade, has been commissioned by Pirelli from the Italian company Bartoccini Premiazioni in collaboration with Stefano Zuech. In this case too, the trophy references the Silverstone circuit, reproducing its layout, enhanced by a series of stars along its perimeter symbolising the marshals committed to ensuring safety. The front combines carbon fibre and stainless steel, while the rear features the British flag, continuing the identity reference already present in the podium trophy.

PIRELLI PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

There will be a special podium cap for the weekend in which Pirelli is the title sponsor. The drivers on the Silverstone podium this year will wear a special yellow cap featuring a houndstooth pattern, a design very popular in Britain. This special edition, designed by Denis Dekovic for Pirelli Design, is already available for purchase on the e-commerce platform https://store.pirelli.com.

The race at Spielberg took place today in conditions of extreme heat. Temperatures at the Red Bull Ring reached 36°C, while the track surface was at 55°C at the start of the Grand Prix.

On the eve of the race, the fastest strategy was predicted to be a two-stop, and that proved to be the case. Only Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly opted for a three-stop approach, while all the other drivers stopped twice.

Almost the entire grid started on Medium tyres. The only exceptions were Carlos Sainz and Gabriel Bortoleto, who started on Softs. The first four drivers across the line all adopted the same strategy, running two stints on Hard tyres after the opening stint on Mediums.

Russell secured victory with a margin of 1.611 seconds over Verstappen, while Antonelli finished just over three tenths behind the four-time world champion. Thanks to his win in Austria, Russell moves up to second in the championship, 40 points behind his team-mate. Kimi Antonelli leads the standings with 171 points.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“All three compounds available came into play today in the two- and three-stop strategies adopted by the teams at Spielberg. As expected, a one-stop strategy was not viable due to the high level of thermal degradation.

The two-stop strategies, on Hard and Medium tyres, were largely determined by the sets of tyres available to each team, carried over from Friday. The most effective approach proved to be the one that used Hard tyres for the final two stints, as adopted by the podium finishers.

Ferrari once again tried something different, stopping three times and also using the Soft, which, aided by a lower fuel load, delivered a solid performance.

While the first stop for the Ferrari drivers and Gasly was brought forward to exploit the undercut, the rest of the grid followed the pit windows we had anticipated. Conversely, the overcut attempted by some did not produce the desired results.

Even the VSC caused by Sainz did not change the picture, except perhaps for Antonelli, who pitted slightly early, losing the time advantage of stopping under neutralised conditions.

With such high track temperatures, the tyres experienced neither graining nor blistering, a sign that the development work carried out by Pirelli is clearly paying off on track.”

Formula 2

Nikola Tsolov claimed victory in the F2 Feature Race. Behind him, Gabriele Minì finished in second, while Oliver Goethe crossed the line in third. Most drivers chose to start on Supersoft tyres before switching to Softs during the mandatory pit stop. This strategy was also adopted by Tsolov and Minì, who pitted on laps eight and nine respectively. The third-placed Goethe opted for a completely different approach, starting on Softs and only pitting after 29 laps to fit Supersofts. A strategy that proved equally effective, allowing him to secure the final spot on the podium.

Formula 3

Noah Strømsted won today’s F3 Feature Race. The Trident driver managed to hold off Ugo Ugochukwu after a thrilling duel. Freddie Slater finished the race in third, also involved in an excellent battle. Fans in the grandstands witnessed a highly action-packed race, with the top 10 drivers covered by just eight seconds at the finish.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will line up fourth on Sunday. Max Verstappen will start fifth, despite an incident on his final flying lap. His initial attempt was nonetheless enough to secure that grid position.

Russell was the fastest driver of the day and set his best time on the C5 compound. The Briton used four sets of Soft tyres during qualifying, setting the quickest lap in the final attempt on a new set. The compound proved to be the best option for a single flying lap.

The top five drivers in qualifying used Soft tyres exclusively in the third free practice session as well, in preparation for qualifying. Russell was also quickest in FP3 with a 1:07.096. Antonelli set the second-fastest time, delivering his best performance during a second run on the same set of tyres.

High temperatures are expected again at the Red Bull Ring tomorrow, as was already the case today. Today, the maximum air temperature reached 36°C, while track temperature peaked at 53°C during qualifying.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by Dominik Paris. The Italian alpine skier is a world champion in the super-G from Are 2019 and a World Cup winner in the same discipline. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, he won a bronze medal in the downhill.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“Tomorrow once again looks set to deliver an interesting race from a strategic perspective. According to our simulations, two-stop strategies are the competitive options. As already seen yesterday, the Medium and Hard compounds exhibit similar degradation over long runs and can therefore be considered interchangeable, with a slight grip advantage for the yellow tyre.

Starting on the C4, teams that still have two sets of Hard available could complete the race using both. Alternatively, those who have saved two sets of Medium may choose to run the C3 in the middle stint and fit a new set of C4 towards the end.

Some teams also tested the Soft in long runs today, perhaps indicating a possible use at the start, taking advantage of the extra grip. Still considering a two-stop option, its replacement could come between laps 14 and 20, barring neutralisations, switching to Medium before finishing on Hard.

There is, however, a three-stop option, again starting on the Soft, which, if well executed, could prove effective. By exploiting the strong undercut at Spielberg, some drivers may choose to anticipate their rivals with a very early first stop and then use all three available compounds over the remainder of the race.

This strategy is around a couple of seconds slower when factoring in traffic and the overtaking required, but in clean air it is actually quicker than the two-stop. Some teams may therefore be willing to take the gamble. After all, the memory is still fresh of how Hamilton secured victory in Barcelona with a similar move.”

FORMULA 2

The Formula 2 Sprint race delivered a duel between John Bennett and Sebastian Montoya. On the final lap, Bennett managed to overtake Montoya, securing the win. Behind the pair, Rafael Villagomez crossed the line in third. The entire field used Soft tyres. The Feature Race is scheduled for tomorrow.

FORMULA 3

Ernesto Rivera won the Formula 3 Sprint race at the Red Bull Ring. It marks the Mexican’s first victory in the championship. Pedro Clerot finished second behind Rivera, while Jin Nakamura took third. Pole-sitter James Wharton ultimately finished fourth.

During the first session, drivers initially focused their runs on the Medium (C4) and Hard (C3) compounds. Red Bull was the only team to take to the track straight away on the Soft (C5). By the end of FP1, however, all drivers had used the softest compound for at least one run.

If the use of the three options was evenly balanced in the opening hour, in the second session drivers favoured the Medium and Soft tyres. Antonelli set the fastest time on the C5, stopping the clock at 1:07.014. Oscar Piastri finished second, just over two-tenths adrift, while Lando Norris ended the day in third position.

The top three all completed their long runs on the Medium, a strategy adopted by most of the field, although some teams also evaluated the Soft and Hard over longer distances. This was similar to what was already seen in Barcelona and could suggest that all three options may be viable for Sunday’s race.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“Today was very useful for gathering a significant amount of data on all the compounds, both in performance runs and in long runs. The teams differed across the two sessions between those who preferred to save both sets of Hard tyres for the coming days and those who had already used up one set of the hardest compound. This could also point towards a range of different strategies for Sunday, for which there is currently quite a wide spread of possible options.

Considering the degradation exacerbated by the high temperatures and the notably abrasive surface, a two-stop Grand Prix is more likely. In terms of grip, the C3 and C4 displayed very similar behaviour, still not optimal due to a track surface that is not in the best condition but which will improve over the weekend. The Soft, on the other hand, is already delivering very good performance and, from some attempts, it even appears that drivers can improve their time on a second lap. This will obviously need to be verified in tomorrow’s qualifying.

The red tyre was not widely used in today’s long runs, so we do not yet have a clear understanding of its consistency over high mileage, as we do for the Medium and Hard. It could therefore represent the least favourable option in defining race strategies, should teams opt for a conservative approach, also considering that the forecasts indicate a further rise in temperatures.”

FORMULA 2

In qualifying, the fastest time was set by Noel Leon, who claimed his first F2 pole position. The Mexican driver stopped the clock at 1:15.544, just edging out Alex Dunne. Third place went to Nikola Tsolov. On Sunday, these drivers will start from these exact positions, while the Saturday Sprint Race will feature a reversed grid.

Over the Austrian weekend, teams can use the two softest compounds in the range: Soft and Supersoft. The latter could last 7-8 laps at the start of the race before its performance drops below that of the Soft, making a switch more beneficial in terms of pace. However, a driver’s ability to manage the tyre could extend its usage by a few laps, providing an advantage in the second part of the race. For this reason, strategies for the Feature Race tend to converge in overall race time.

FORMULA 3

As in F2, Formula 3 also saw a maiden pole position in the championship for a driver. Hiyu Yamakoshi was the fastest on track with a time of 1:21.730. As a result, the Van Amersfoort Racing driver will start from pole position on Sunday. Alongside him will be Ugo Ugochukwu, who set the second fastest time on Friday, while Tuukka Taponen secured the third quickest lap.

The compound used over the Austrian weekend is the Soft. This year, rear tyre pressures are one psi higher and therefore drivers must carefully manage tyre balance, avoiding overheating and increased wear. Those who can do this most effectively in the early stages of the race should reap the rewards in the closing laps before the chequered flag.

At Spielberg, Pirelli will bring the softest compounds in the range: C3, C4 and C5. Wear is not a decisive factor in Austria, where degradation is mainly thermal in origin. The asphalt is several years old and therefore features high levels of micro- and macro-roughness which, in itself, generates heat in the tyres.

Grip is good thanks to the rubber laid down by the numerous motorsport events hosted by the circuit throughout the year and improves over the course of the weekend, as the track evolves significantly and enhances car performance.

The traction zones also place stress on the rear tyres, which are more prone to degradation. However, drivers will need to pay attention to the front axle under downhill braking. The Red Bull Ring has an elevation change of 63 metres, making it the second circuit for altitude variation. The new power units could deliver enough power to induce locking precisely under these downhill braking phases.

Another key aspect relates to the circuit’s altitude. At over 600 metres, the thinner air results in lower downforce on the cars, which may lead to increased tyre slip.

Last year, most teams completed the race with two pit stops and all three nominated compounds were used during the Grand Prix. With the greater consistency of the current tyres, a stronger trend towards a one-stop strategy could be expected.

Temperatures will also be a factor. In late June they could be high, approaching Barcelona levels. However, the circuit is located in a mountainous area of Styria and the surrounding forests can sometimes create conditions for sudden changes in weather.

IN 2025

Last year’s Spielberg race was largely decided by two-stop strategies. Soft and Medium were the main choices on the starting grid: five drivers opted for the C5, while the others selected the C4. The drivers who finished on the podium completed their middle stint on the Hard compound before reaching the chequered flag on Medium tyres. Strategies adopted by the rest of the field varied, based on the sets of tyres available for Sunday.

STATISTICS

The Austrian Grand Prix will be staged for the 39th time. After the first race held at Zeltweg in 1964, the event moved near its current location in 1970. Eighteen editions took place at what was then known as the Österreichring until 1987; subsequent races were held after a ten-year hiatus. At the Red Bull Ring, Formula 1 also staged two editions of the Styrian Grand Prix in 2020 and 2021, organised to address calendar challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. Max Verstappen is the most successful driver at the Austrian Grand Prix with four victories, one more than Alain Prost. McLaren is the most successful constructor with seven wins, followed by Ferrari and Mercedes on six.

From a strategic standpoint, the race was extremely interesting. Hamilton adopted a three-stop strategy: the Ferrari driver started on Softs, switching to Hards on lap 11. After lap 27 he made his second stop for Mediums, which he then replaced on lap 41, during a VSC phase, once again with Hards that carried him to victory.

While the Ferrari driver used all the available compounds, Russell and Norris relied only on Mediums and Hards. Both opted for a two-stop strategy, starting on Mediums and switching to Hards for the final two stints.

On a hot day, with track temperatures reaching 53°C, strategies ranging from two to four stops were seen, with all compounds widely used. Nine drivers used each of the three compounds selected for the race weekend.

In the championship battle, Hamilton has reduced the gap to leader Kimi Antonelli. The Italian, who retired in the closing stages of the race, still leads the standings with 156 points, while Hamilton now trails by 41. George Russell occupies third place with 106 points, 50 behind the leader.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

”The Barcelona Grand Prix was one of the most interesting races since the start of the season, particularly with regard to tyre usage. Tyres played a central role: aided by pronounced degradation, due to the high temperatures and the choice of softer compounds compared to 2025, they became the key pieces in an intense game of chess, highlighting both the drivers’ skills and the teams’ strategic capabilities.

”The two-stop strategy proved very effective in terms of race pace, but the real winning move was the insight shown by some teams in opting directly for three pit stops on Sunday. Scuderia Ferrari, for example, chose to differentiate the strategies between its two drivers. Leclerc, starting from tenth position, pitted twice, while the decision to stop Lewis Hamilton three times delivered the Briton his first victory in red.

”By significantly anticipating the first stop compared to the recommended windows, the team maximised the undercut, forcing their rivals to respond on the same strategy. It was an option that Ferrari had likely already identified from the outset as the most competitive for Hamilton. The advantage was then managed all the way to the chequered flag, also thanks to the time gained during a Virtual Safety Car.

”No significant changes were observed in tyre behaviour compared to Friday’s second free practice session. Tyre management and track evolution helped to slightly reduce degradation in the final stints, as did the use of both sets of Hard tyres retained by some teams.

”The Medium was probably the most effective compound over race distance, offering an excellent balance between grip and degradation. The two Ferrari drivers demonstrated this in the third stint by adopting different strategies: before his retirement, Leclerc was unable to match his team-mate’s pace.

”All three compounds selected for the weekend were nonetheless used in the race. Even the Soft, despite its rapid performance drop-off, found a place in strategies, both at the start and in the closing stages, with mixed results.”

Formula 2

Rafael Camara successfully converted pole position into victory in the Formula 2 Feature Race at the Catalonia Grand Prix. The race was run in very hot conditions and Camara secured a dominant win by more than 12 seconds over second-placed Alex Dunne. Gabriele Minì finished third.

The Brazilian started on soft tyres before switching to Hards on lap 23. Dunne also started on Softs but stopped much earlier, on lap 13, to fit Hards. A very similar strategy was used by Minì, who pitted on lap 14 for the harder compound. Minì retains the championship lead with 86 points, followed by Tsolov on 80. Camara sits third with 69 points.

Formula 3

Theophile Nael won the Formula 3 Feature Race, narrowly holding off Hiyu Yamakoshi. The Japanese driver remained glued to Nael throughout the race right up to the chequered flag. Ugo Ugochukwu finished third. Ugochukwu remains at the top of the championship with 58 points, while Nael moves into second place following Sunday’s victory with 52 points.

Qualifying took place in very hot conditions, with ambient temperatures reaching 30°C. The mercury is not expected to drop tomorrow, with track temperatures forecast to exceed 50°C, turning the race into an intriguing strategic contest.

While teams focused mainly on race pace during Friday’s free practice sessions, Saturday’s hour was entirely devoted to qualifying performance. In the morning session, all drivers used the Soft C4. Only Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Pérez opted for the Medium C3 before also switching to the red compound. Russell was fastest in FP3 with a 1:15.679, ahead of Oscar Piastri in second and Charles Leclerc completing the top three.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by Chris Hoy. The former track cycling professional won six Olympic gold medals and eleven world titles during his career, making him the second most decorated British athlete of all time.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

“The third free practice session was used by the teams exclusively with qualifying in mind. No one focused on long runs. Instead, everyone concentrated on single-lap performance, which they would later face across the three sessions in the afternoon.

“As already evident yesterday, and confirmed today by some isolated attempts, it is not possible to improve lap time on a second run due to the high level of thermal degradation. This is mainly due to the record track temperatures. The 53°C recorded today also explain why lap times were around nine tenths slower than simulations.

“Looking ahead to tomorrow’s race, the likely strategies involve at least two pit stops. Teams may start on a Medium-Hard combination and then decide, based on track performance, whether to finish the race on the yellow or white compound.

“It is worth noting that most teams have retained two sets of C2 from yesterday, a compound that appears particularly effective on cars with greater downforce, albeit with only slightly lower degradation than the other two.

“There is also the option of starting on the Soft, followed by Medium and Hard towards the end. A three-stop strategy with three Soft stints and one Medium does not differ significantly from these approaches. However, considering traffic and the need to overtake, it is unlikely that many teams will commit to it beforehand.”

FORMULA 2

Kush Maini claimed a dominant victory in the Formula 2 Sprint race at the Barcelona circuit. Maini crossed the line more than seven seconds clear of second-placed Gabriele Minì. Nikola Tsolov completed the podium in third after taking advantage of an off-track excursion by Colton Herta on the final lap. All drivers in the top ten adopted the same strategy, completing the entire race on the hard compound.

FORMULA 3

The Formula 3 Sprint race in Barcelona was won by James Wharton. The Prema driver managed to keep Freddie Slater, who finished second, and Gerrard Xie in third behind him. The entire field used the hard compound during the Sprint. The F3 Feature Race is scheduled for tomorrow morning, Sunday.

Seven teams therefore elected to run young drivers in the opening hour, as required by the regulations at least four times a year during FP1. Taking to the track were Fred Vesti (Mercedes), Dino Beganovic (Ferrari), Leonardo Fornaroli (McLaren), Ayumu Iwasa (Red Bull), Luke Browning (Williams), Paul Aron (Audi) and Colton Herta (Cadillac).

From a tyre perspective, all three compounds available for the weekend were used across both sessions. The Hard C2 was only run by the Haas drivers in FP1, while Max Verstappen was the sole driver to use it in FP2. In the latter part of the second session, teams focused primarily on long runs, predominantly using the Medium C3 compound.

The fastest time in FP2 was set by Lando Norris with a 1:15.426 on Soft C4. Ambient temperatures reached 29°C, with track temperatures consequently climbing to 50°C. In FP1, the quickest time was recorded by George Russell with a 1:16.363, also on the C4.

Before on-track activities got underway, the circuit’s press conference room hosted the presentation of the book “A Stir of the Soul: Pirelli’s 500 GPs in the F1 World Championship”, curated by Fondazione Pirelli and published by Marsilio Arte. The volume celebrates Pirelli’s 500 Grands Prix in the World Championship through a rich narrative of images and texts, featuring materials sourced from the Pirelli Historical Archive.

The event brought together Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Executive Vice President and Chairman of Fondazione Pirelli; Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1®; H. E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, who contributed via video; Jean Todt, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety; and Nick Heidfeld, former Formula 1 driver.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

“Most teams chose not to use the Hard compound today, meaning they will retain two sets to take into the race. The few who did run it reported greater sliding compared to the two softer compounds, resulting in surface overheating that brings it closer, in terms of degradation, to the Medium and Soft.

“Overall, all compounds are showing high levels of thermal degradation, particularly on the front and rear left, due to the abrasive surface of the asphalt, second only to Bahrain, the characteristics of the circuit and the high track temperatures, which are set to increase further over the coming days. In performance runs, drivers struggled to cool the tyres sufficiently to attempt a second flying lap which, in these conditions, at best matches the previous time.

“On Sunday, we therefore expect a race with at least two pit stops. Medium and Soft, the two compounds offering the highest grip, degrade at a similar rate, although early data suggests that the yellow tyre adapts more easily to the Barcelona track. Between the two, the performance gap is in the region of five to six tenths of a second.”

FORMULA 2

In Formula 2, Rafael Camara secured pole position for Sunday’s Feature Race. With a 1:24.810, the Brazilian was the fastest driver of the day. Joshua Durksen finished in second place, 0.135 seconds behind, while third went to Alex Dunne, who was 0.225 seconds off the pace. On Saturday, however, the programme begins with the Sprint Race, which will start with a reversed grid. Noel Leon will line up on pole for that race, thanks to his tenth-place finish in qualifying.

The compounds selected for the Barcelona weekend are Hard and Soft. The Sprint Race will be contested on the harder option, with careful management of front-axle degradation required. For the Feature Race, both strategies appear viable. We expect teams to split between the Hard–Soft combination and the reverse. Starting on the red tyre offers better grip in the early stages of the race, without being particularly penalising in the event of neutralisations, thanks to the possibility of extending the stint through proper management.

FORMULA 3

On Friday, it was Theophile Nael who set the fastest time with a 1:28.263. Right behind him, Ugo Ugochukwu finished in second place, just 0.039 seconds adrift. Third place went to Hiyu Yamakoshi, who ended the session 0.135 seconds off Nael.

The compound selected for the Barcelona race weekend is the Hard, on a circuit where lateral forces on the tyres are particularly high due to the numerous high-speed corners. The front axle represents the main limitation for this very reason and will require even more careful management from the drivers. This year, moreover, rear axle pressure will be 1 psi higher than last season, with the aim of increasing degradation. Drivers will therefore need to adapt their tyre management approach; however, this change will make it easier to control the limiting axle.

The Red Bull Ring is the circuit with the fewest corners and the shortest lap time on the World Championship calendar. The heavy braking and acceleration dictated by the layout mean that the tyres are subject to degradation that is predominantly thermal in origin, without the axles being exposed to high lateral loads. Wear is not a decisive factor, even though the circuit surface is old and features a high level of abrasiveness.

This year, the British Grand Prix weekend will adopt the Sprint format. Silverstone is one of the longest tracks on the calendar and is characterised by high-speed corners that generate very high lateral forces, similar to those seen at Suzuka and Spa-Francorchamps. As a result, the front axle is the most heavily stressed, with the left-hand tyre more prone to wear due to the predominance of right-hand corners. Pirelli is the Title Sponsor of the race weekend, as it will also be for the Italian Grand Prix, associating its name with the two historic events that have been held the most times in the Formula 1 World Championship.

The teams will head back to Catalonia this weekend for the race weekend that takes its name from the city and the autonomous community, with the national designation this season instead assigned to the new Grand Prix that will be held in Madrid in September. Compared with its original slot on the calendar, the Montmeló race has been postponed by a couple of weeks.

The compounds selected for this round are C2 for the Hard, C3 for the Medium and C4 for the Soft. This is therefore a softer trio than the usual selection for Barcelona. Given the characteristics of the current compounds, the aim is to encourage a greater number of pit stops and also the inclusion of the Hard tyre in race strategies.

The track is one of the most complete on the calendar and is 4.657 kilometres long. As well as the straights, it features 14 corners that are taken at high speeds. The lateral forces exerted on the tyres are high, particularly on the left-hand side, which is more heavily stressed by the nine right-hand corners. The most significant in this respect are Turn 3 and the final two corners, which were reprofiled in 2023 to make the entry onto the pit straight more flowing.

Tyre degradation is predominantly thermal and, as with wear, the front axle is the limiting factor. The asphalt is very abrasive due to the advanced age of the track surface. It should also be taken into account that track temperatures are likely to be higher than those recorded in recent years, given the change in the date of the race.

It will be interesting to assess what upgrades the teams bring this weekend, traditionally one that is rich in developments to the cars. These could also involve the wheel rims, which have a direct impact on heat exchange between the asphalt, the tyres and the braking system. An easy performance benchmark for the teams will be the January tests held at the same circuit.

Pirelli will remain at Montmeló on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June for a session of slick tyre testing. Scuderia Ferrari, Aston Martin and Cadillac will take part in the two-day test.

IN 2025

Eighteen drivers on the grid started the race on the Soft tyre, using a mix of new and used sets. The only driver to start from the pit lane, Yuki Tsunoda, opted instead for a set of Mediums. The majority of the central stint was completed on the yellow-marked compound, before switching back to the Soft for the final phase. A Safety Car in the closing laps prompted all drivers to make an additional stop. The Red Bull drivers in total made four pit stops, while the others stopped three times. The only driver to use the Hard tyre during the Grand Prix was Max Verstappen, in his final stint.

STATISTICS

The Grand Prix in Spain is staging its fifty-sixth edition as a round of the Formula 1 World Championship. To date, the race has been held at five different circuits since its first edition in 1951: twice at Pedralbes, four times at Montjuïc Park, five at Jerez de la Frontera, nine at Jarama and thirty-five at Barcelona. Two drivers are level for the highest number of victories in the Spanish Grand Prix: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, both with six wins, two more than Max Verstappen, who stands on four. Ferrari is the most successful constructor with 12 victories, followed by McLaren with nine.

Max Verstappen, who lined up second on the grid, had a difficult start and was forced to stop his car in the pits at the end of the opening lap due to mechanical problems, bringing his race to an early end. Behind Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton finished second, with Isack Hadjar taking third place.

Almost all drivers started the race on the Medium compound. Lewis Hamilton was the first of the top three finishers to pit, on lap 28, while Antonelli made his stop on lap 37. Both switched from Medium to Hard tyres. Taking advantage of a Safety Car on lap 50, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc made an additional stop.

After the neutralisation period, however, it was Leclerc who triggered another Safety Car intervention. The subsequent red flag allowed race leader Antonelli to fit a set of Soft tyres. The rest of the field also opted to switch to the same compound during the race suspension.

At the standing restart following the red flag, Antonelli got away perfectly once again, securing the victory. Hamilton also made an excellent start, finishing second, with Hadjar third behind them.

The longest stint on the C3 was completed by Esteban Ocon, who ran for 50 laps, while Arvid Lindblad covered 65 laps on the C4, the highest number of laps on that compound. The longest run on the C5 was recorded by Fernando Alonso, with 55 laps.

In the championship battle, this victory saw Antonelli, now on 156 points, extend his advantage over second-placed Lewis Hamilton. The Italian leads with a margin of 66 points, while George Russell follows in third position with 88 points.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

”Today the drivers did not hold back on track and tried to extract the maximum from their cars. This is reflected in the levels of tyre degradation observed, which were higher than in previous days and, in some cases, led to performance drop-offs. The decision not to preserve the tyres probably pushed teams towards more conservative strategic choices. Almost everyone opted to start on the Medium, before choosing the Hard for the second stint. However, some long runs on the Soft, such as those completed by Aston Martin, clearly showed that the red tyre could be a valid alternative. The Soft was also the option chosen by everyone for the restart. The driver who made the best use of all three compounds was the winner himself, Kimi Antonelli, who set the fastest times of the Grand Prix on Hard, Medium and Soft, dominating the race as well. Overall, the drivers managed to bring the tyres up to temperature more easily, perhaps thanks to the continuous laps around the circuit. The limiting axle was obviously the rear, due to the numerous traction phases during the race, and it was also the most prone to wear. It was an interesting event, especially in the second half, which was full of twists and featured a new grid restart”.

Formula 2

Rafael Câmara started from pole position in the Monaco Feature Race but was unable to convert it into victory. In the closing stages, the Brazilian ran wide at Sainte Devote, allowing Nikola Tsolov to take the lead. The incident effectively marked the end of Câmara’s race. Behind Tsolov, Alex Dunne crossed the line in second position, with Dino Beganovic third at the finish.

The three drivers on the podium adopted the same strategy, starting on the Soft compound before switching to the Supersoft. Tsolov pitted on lap 32, Dunne on lap 33 and Beganovic on lap 28. Several drivers significantly delayed their pit stop in the hope of a late Safety Car, with five of them completing as many as 40 of the scheduled 42 laps on the Soft compound.

After the Monaco Grand Prix, Gabriele Minì leads the championship standings with 63 points. Tsolov follows just one point behind in second position, while Martinius Stenshorne sits third with 48 points.

Formula 3

On the streets of Monaco, Brando Badoer claimed his first victory in the Formula 3 Championship. The Italian started from second on the grid but immediately managed to overtake poleman Théophile Naël. From that moment on, Badoer never relinquished the lead of the race. Naël finished second, with Freddie Slater completing the podium in third position. The gap between Badoer and Naël at the finish was just over half a second. Naël applied strong pressure in the closing stages, but Badoer defended the lead with composure, securing his first win in the championship.

Qualifying took place in perfect conditions, with clear skies and ambient temperatures of around 23 °C. All drivers ran the C5 compound, exploiting it to the maximum. In Q1, some were able to complete multiple flying laps on the same set of tyres. In Q3, the top three all carried out an out-lap followed by a fast preparation lap before their decisive attempt.

Earlier, in the third free practice session, the drivers also ran exclusively on Soft tyres. Track temperatures reached 48 °C. Despite an interruption caused by an accident involving Oliver Bearman and the resulting red flag, the teams were able to complete a good number of laps to prepare as effectively as possible for the subsequent qualifying session. Once again, Antonelli was the fastest, setting a time of 1:12.720.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented to the Mercedes driver by Eileen Gu. The 22-year-old is the only athlete to have competed in all three freestyle skiing disciplines, winning at least one medal in each. Her palmarès includes three golds and three silvers achieved between the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games and Milano-Cortina 2026.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

There is no other race weekend in which Saturday is as important as the Grand Prix itself. At Monaco, in fact, the position secured in qualifying often determines the final result on Sunday, as overtaking is extremely difficult.

It is therefore clear that those who set the best times today will already start with an advantage, regardless of the strategies devised by their respective teams. The low tyre degradation traditionally seen on the streets of the Principality allows the teams to make a single stop tomorrow to comply with the obligation to use two compounds.

Strategies can be built using all the tyres available, with combinations that are very close to one another in terms of performance. A couple of options could feature a final stint on the Hard, starting on either Soft or Medium, with the pit stop respectively between laps 29 and 35 or between laps 33 and 39.

However, we believe that the teams could make effective use of the higher grip offered by the two softer compounds. The extensive use of the C5 in Montreal and again today should have provided them with the data needed to integrate it successfully into the Monaco race as well. By exploiting the initial grip of the Soft, they could then switch to the Medium between laps 31 and 37.

It should be borne in mind that there are many possible variants and, above all, that the pit stop windows can also be significantly influenced by red flags and neutralisations. One only has to recall what happened two years ago, when a collision on the opening lap sent everyone immediately into the pits to make what turned out to be the only stop of the day for the majority of drivers.

FORMULA 2

The Formula 2 Sprint Race was won by Noel Leon. The Mexican driver managed to take the chequered flag ahead of Roman Bilinski in second place, with Gabriele Minì finishing third. The top three all ran on Soft tyres. Leon was able to build a lead of almost 3.5 seconds over Bilinski. The Feature Race is scheduled for Sunday, with the starting grid determined by the results of Friday’s qualifying session. In that session, Rafael Câmara was the fastest and will therefore start from pole position in Sunday’s race.

FORMULA 3

Hiyu Yamakoshi (Van Amersfoort Racing) managed to convert pole position into victory in the Sprint Race. This was the Japanese driver’s first career win, as he kept Lucas Oil and Bruno del Pino behind him on the streets of Monaco. There was also a lengthy red-flag period during the race, caused by an accident on the opening lap, but this did not distract Yamakoshi from claiming his maiden success. On Sunday, Théophile Nael will start from pole position in the Feature Race.

In FP2, all drivers, with the exception of Lando Norris and the two Aston Martin cars, ran both the C4 and C5 compounds. Norris was forced to stop his car after just seven laps on the Medium compound, while the Aston Martin drivers completed the entire session using only the Softs.

Hamilton stopped the clocks at 1:13.026, Leclerc at 1:13.137 and Verstappen at 1:13.194. As is tradition on Fridays at the Monte Carlo street circuit, the drivers completed a large number of laps to build confidence with the track: Hamilton and Leclerc, for example, both covered 34 laps, while Verstappen completed 33 laps in the second session.

While the Ferrari drivers completed the majority of their running on the C4, Verstappen worked mainly with the C5. The three fastest drivers also reflected the general trend across the rest of the field, which showed a fairly balanced usage between the two compounds.

The Hard C3 was instead used during the early phases of the first session, after which almost everyone switched to the Medium. Only the Cadillac drivers used the Soft tyres in FP1. At the end of the first hour, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were the fastest, followed by Max Verstappen in third place.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

Most teams started the Monaco weekend using the Hard compound, with the aim of assessing track conditions and allowing the drivers to build confidence with the circuit. The C3 will in all likelihood be the least-used option in the race, in a scenario that should point towards a one-stop strategy, barring any neutralisations.

Over the course of the day, the other two compounds proved to be consistent. The long runs completed by some drivers did not show any particular degradation, while graining, although it appeared on some front axles, did not impact performance.

Today’s fastest lap times are just three tenths of a second away from the quickest lap indicated by the teams’ simulations. It is therefore plausible that, already in qualifying, also thanks to the further evolution of the track, which is traditionally very pronounced in the Principality, lap times quicker than the forecasts could be recorded.

To achieve a strong qualifying performance, it will be crucial to bring the Soft compound into the correct operating window. Teams may adopt different approaches to achieve this, taking into account the unique characteristics of the circuit. In strategic evaluations, managing traffic will also be critical, particularly in light of the presence of two additional cars on track this year.

FORMULA 2

Despite an impact with the barriers at the start of the session and the resulting forced stop in the pit lane for several minutes, Rafael Camara still managed to secure pole position. A pole of great importance on the streets of Monaco, where overtaking is notoriously very difficult.

In Formula 2, qualifying is split into two groups, and it was Nikola Tsolov, running in Group B, who claimed second position. The Bulgarian was just over a tenth of a second slower than Camara and will therefore start from the second grid slot in Sunday’s race.

Although Alex Dunne was faster than Tsolov in qualifying, the Irishman still has a grid penalty to serve and will therefore not start from second place on Sunday. Third place on the grid will be occupied by Dino Beganovic.

The compounds selected for the Monaco round are the two softest in the range: Soft and Supersoft. Most drivers will start the main race on the Softs, waiting for a neutralisation or a red flag to make the switch and finish on the Supersofts. As we know, the probability of a Safety Car is high and strategy, including the possibility of an overcut, will be crucial to bringing home a positive result.

FORMULA 3

In the second race weekend of the season for the Formula 3 drivers, Théophile Nael will start from pole position in Sunday’s race. The Campos driver was the fastest in Friday’s qualifying session. Brando Badoer set the second-fastest time and will therefore line up P2 on Sunday, while Freddie Slater qualified in third position.

The compound chosen for the Monaco event is the Soft. The characteristics of the street circuit and its low speeds mean that degradation does not have a significant impact, allowing drivers to push for the entire duration of the race and defend their position if necessary, despite overtaking being very difficult. Neutralisations, which are frequent on this track, allow drivers to recover performance and provide an advantage to those who are able to bring the tyre up to temperature most effectively at the restart.

The carriageway, which essentially coincides with the two lanes of normal urban traffic, is extremely narrow and almost entirely lacking run-off areas. Safety barriers line the entire track and are often brushed by the drivers, who try to gain even a few centimetres by following the ideal racing line.

The average speed maintained over the 78 laps of the circuit is the lowest of the Formula 1 World Championship: in some sections the cars slow to around 50 km/h. From a technical point of view, the Monaco weekend is among the most complex for the teams, who are required to set up their cars with maximum aerodynamic downforce and to focus everything on qualifying in order to secure a good grid position, given that overtaking opportunities are extremely limited.

For Monaco, the softest tyre range is always selected, this year C3, C4 and C5, to ensure maximum grip on a very smooth asphalt surface. For this edition, the road surface has been resurfaced between Turns 19 and 1, between Turn 7 and the entrance to the tunnel, as well as on the entry to and exit from the pit lane. Graining may occur, but it should not significantly affect tyre behaviour, as in the Principality the tyres are subjected mainly to traction-related loads.

The low level of tyre degradation on the Monaco track traditionally results in a one-stop race. An exception was last year, when the FIA introduced an experimental regulatory change obliging drivers to use at least three different sets of tyres, thereby enforcing at least two pit stops. The rule was subsequently abandoned and the classic format returns.

Strategies are influenced above all by neutralisations and red flags, which are quite frequent given the high probability of contact with the barriers and the difficulty of removing cars without interrupting the race. In 2024, for example, a red flag on the opening lap allowed all drivers to immediately comply with the requirement to use both compounds, making it possible to complete the remainder of the Grand Prix with a split strategy between Medium and Hard.

IN 2025

The race was characterised by the requirement to use at least three different tyre sets, including one from the two mandatory specifications (Medium and Hard). Most drivers opted for combinations of Medium and Hard, while the drivers from the six teams that had only one set each of C5 and C4 ran all three compounds (including C6 Soft). Stint lengths varied widely: some drivers ran the white-marked tyre for much of the race, while others preferred to split the Grand Prix into three more evenly balanced segments.

STATISTICS

The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the longest-standing events in Formula 1 history. This year’s edition will be the 72nd in the Principality. The most successful driver remains Ayrton Senna with six victories, one more than Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher. McLaren is the most successful constructor with 16 wins, followed by Ferrari on 10.

PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

The Pirelli Podium Cap for Monaco draws inspiration from the elegance that has always defined the Principality. The special edition cap, designed by Denis Dekovic for Pirelli Design, comes in deep red and champagne colours, evoking luxury and exclusivity. The Podium Cap is already available for purchase on the Pirelli e-commerce platform: https://store.pirelli.com.  

Tyre choices at the start were varied, as a still slightly damp track prompted several drivers to fit Intermediates. This was the case for the McLaren pair, Audi, Cadillac and Carlos Sainz in the Williams. With the track drying quickly, everyone switched to slick tyres within the first three laps. Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto and Liam Lawson (as well as Arvin Lindblad, who did not start) opted for the Medium on the grid, while the rest of the field started on the Soft.

For the majority of drivers, a one-stop strategy proved to be the right call. The first four finishers, starting on the C5, took advantage of a Virtual Safety Car to make their pit stop on lap 31 and switch to the C4.

Alpine’s strategy was also noteworthy, with both drivers starting on the Medium before switching to the Hard, allowing them to finish in sixth and eighth positions. All the compounds selected for this weekend therefore proved to be valid options on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal.

With this victory, Antonelli, now on 131 points, strengthens his lead in the championship title fight. The Italian now has a 43-point advantage over second-placed George Russell. Leclerc follows, 56 points behind Antonelli. The next F1 round takes place in two weeks’ time at the Monaco Grand Prix.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

It did not rain during the Canadian Grand Prix, but in the end rain was still, in some respects, a key factor in the race, at least as far as the start was concerned.

The decision by four teams, including McLaren, to fit Intermediates in anticipation of a sudden change in the weather was a gamble that did not pay off, as it became immediately clear once the lights went out that the race would be run on a dry track.

The low temperatures pushed the remaining teams to rely on the softest compound which, thanks to its greater grip, helped the tyres reach their operating window, despite the additional difficulties caused by the two extra formation laps.

As we described yesterday, the C5 was the joker of this Sunday thanks to its consistency, which allowed drivers to run until the first neutralisation, but the theoretically quickest strategy nevertheless confirmed its effectiveness. This is demonstrated by the positions gained by the two Alpine drivers, who started on the Medium and finished the race in the points on the Hard.

Graining, despite the cold conditions, was very limited and did not affect tyre performance over a stint, allowing the drivers to focus on on-track battles, which once again delivered an entertaining Grand Prix.

The fastest lap today, set by race winner Kimi Antonelli, was less than a tenth of a second slower than the quickest race lap recorded in 2025 by his team-mate Russell, a sign that car development is progressing at full speed and in the right direction.

After an exciting race, Martinius Stenshorne secured victory in the Feature Race in Canada. Alex Dunne added to the joy for Rodin Motorsport by finishing second. Behind the two team-mates, Gabriele Minì crossed the line in third position.

Conditions during the Feature Race at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit were very challenging. In addition to a few drops of rain, strong winds made life difficult for the drivers. This led to several incidents and numerous Safety Car interventions. In the end, the top three finishers adopted the same strategy, starting on the Supersoft before switching to the Soft.

At the end of an intense race, Stenshorne kept his cool in the most difficult conditions to take the win. Thanks to his third place, Minì now moves into the lead of the championship standings. With 57 points, the Italian holds a 10-point advantage over Nikola Tsolov.

Russell set his fastest lap on the second flying run, using the same set of C5 tyres, earning him the right to start from the front of the grid on Sunday. Several drivers went quicker on their second push lap with the same set of tyres, making the session uncertain right up to the final seconds.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented by Giacomo Gianniotti. The actor, of Italian heritage, grew up in Canada and achieved worldwide fame thanks to the series Grey’s Anatomy, in which he played doctor Andrew DeLuca. He currently stars in the crime series Wild Cards on Netflix.

The Mercedes driver also claimed victory in today’s Sprint, making the most of the pole position he secured for the short race on Friday. Second place went to Norris, with Antonelli finishing third. The Mercedes drivers opted to start on a used set of Medium tyres, while Norris started on a new set of the same compound. Arvin Lindblad, running the Hard, finished in eighth position, while Sergio Perez, classified eleventh, completed today’s race on the Soft.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

The choice of compound for today’s Sprint was almost uniform across the grid, with a few exceptions that ultimately allowed all three compounds to be seen in action. Over the distance of the short race, the Soft showed linear and limited degradation, a sign that it could represent a useful joker in the strategies for Sunday’s race, should the track remain dry.

For tomorrow, the one-stop strategy is clearly the best option, with the Medium-Hard combination indicated as the quickest on paper. This conservative approach, which we believe will be the most widely adopted by the teams in the absence of rain, calls for the pit stop to take place between laps 21 and 27.

Slower than the previous option is the Hard-Medium strategy, which allows the first stint to be extended until laps 38 to 44. Depending on grid position, some drivers could benefit from starting on the Soft, bringing forward the pit stop to between laps 17 and 23, before completing the final stint on the Hard.

There is, however, a high probability of rain tomorrow, which opens up the use of the two wet-weather products. From Miami onwards, Pirelli has extended the authorisation for the use of tyre blankets to the Full Wets as well, setting them at 40 °C for two hours. A temperature increase had already been adopted for the Intermediates, which can be heated to 70 °C for two hours, as is the case with slicks.

The use of tyre blankets certainly makes it easier to bring wet tyres up to temperature in the opening laps, even in low-grip conditions, such as low ambient temperatures or due to the characteristics of the circuit itself. Both factors apply at Montreal, where the relatively low lateral forces make it difficult to generate tyre temperature, as seen in today’s qualifying, and where forecasts indicate a further drop in minimum temperatures.

Noel Leon claimed his first Formula 2 victory by winning the Sprint Race in Canada. The driver remained calm and focused despite multiple safety car periods during the Sprint on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Finishing almost four seconds behind, Gabriele Minì took second place. The Italian had started from pole position but was unable to convert his front-row start into a win. However, Minì managed to keep Martinius Stenshorne behind him, with the Norwegian finishing third. The F2 drivers will be back on track tomorrow for the main race of the weekend.

As always in Sprint Qualifying, the first two sessions were run exclusively on one set per session of the Medium compound (C4). The ten drivers who progressed to SQ3 were then able to fit a new set of Soft tyres (C5), completing two flying laps.

On his second push lap, Russell set the fastest time of 1:12.965. He was therefore presented with the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award by Pirelli Motorsport Director Dario Marrafuschi.

In the first free practice session, which was interrupted twice by red flags, all three compounds were used. The Hard was the most popular choice, tested by every team except Racing Bulls and Cadillac. The Soft was the second most used option, while eight drivers also included the Medium in their programmes.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

As is usually the case on Sprint-format weekends, the majority of teams used a set of Hard tyres for most of the free practice session, but the programmes varied from team to team. Some combined long runs with performance runs, while others preferred to focus mainly on the latter, probably with the aim of carefully assessing whether the developments introduced after Miami were effective on track.

It is clear that the cars have fully capitalised on the upgrades introduced in Montreal. Taking lap times as a reference, the gaps are markedly smaller than the roughly two-second margin to last year’s benchmarks that teams had projected in their pre-event simulations.

Graining, which has always been a feature of this circuit, is limited to the front-left tyre and therefore does not affect the rear axle, which is the limiting factor at this track. The characteristics of the circuit also provide little energy to the tyres, meaning they require extra care to be brought into the correct operating window.

We saw this in Sprint Qualifying, where careful management of the outlap was crucial in extracting the best lap from the two softer compounds. The same will apply tomorrow in qualifying for the race, although drivers should find the track in better condition than today. The asphalt is constantly evolving and will continue to improve over the coming days.

Laurens van Hoepen took the first pole position of his Formula 2 career. The Dutch driver was more than two tenths of a second quicker than second-placed Rafael Camara. Behind the pair, Alex Dunne set the third-fastest time of the day. With this pole, van Hoepen caps a particularly positive week, which followed his very first test at the wheel of a Formula 1 car. The Formula 2 Sprint race will take place on Saturday and will feature a reversed starting grid.

The compounds selected for Canada are the two softest in the range. In Sunday’s Feature Race, the fastest strategy on paper should be based on the Soft and Supersoft combination. One of the most likely variables at this street circuit is neutralisations. The short pit lane time could represent an advantage both for those who manage to extend the stint on the Soft tyre while waiting for a safety car, and for those who opt to line up on the grid from the outset on the purple-marked tyres, hoping for an early neutralisation.

The Monte Carlo circuit has the lowest average speed of the entire calendar. The race winds its way through the city streets on a very smooth asphalt surface, which results in virtually no tyre degradation. Overtaking is extremely difficult due to the very narrow track widths, where driver precision is crucial to avoid contact with the barriers. As in recent years, the softest trio in the range is therefore confirmed: C3 as the Hard, C4 as the Medium and C5 as the Soft.

The selection for the Catalan weekend will be one step softer than last year. In Barcelona the C2 will be used for the Hard, the C3 for the Medium and the C4 for the Soft. Unlike the previous round on the calendar, the Spanish circuit is very demanding on tyres, both because of its layout, with many fast, long-radius corners, and because of the temperatures, which promote thermal degradation. With a more consistent range this year, the aim of the selection is therefore to encourage a greater number of pit stops during the race.

The track surface, which was resurfaced in 2024, is smooth and low in abrasiveness. It is used for motor racing only during the Formula 1 weekend and, as a result, the circuit evolves very quickly not only over the three days but also within each individual session. Last year, graining affected the tyres right through to race day. With the new tyres, the phenomenon should be more limited and, thanks to the improving track conditions, could already disappear after Friday.

The circuit, named after Gilles Villeneuve, is 4.361 kilometres long and features 14 corners interspersed with several straights. Its defining characteristic is its so‑called stop‑and‑go nature, which makes strong braking stability and maximum traction performance crucial. Despite being essentially a street circuit, overtaking is possible, especially at the end of the straight leading into the final chicane, just before the famous Wall of Champions, which in 1999 claimed Hill, Schumacher and Villeneuve, all of whom hit the barriers.

As always in Montreal, the weather could play a significant role for the teams. Not only because of the chance of rain, but also due to temperatures that could be cooler than usual given the change of date. Teams may therefore have to carefully evaluate the best ways of bringing the tyres up to the correct operating temperature, particularly in qualifying.

The Soft is clearly the compound with the best warm‑up of the three and will offer optimal grip over a single lap. It could therefore be the favourite for Saturday’s Sprint, but the following day teams may opt for a more conservative approach, tackling the Grand Prix on the two harder compounds. As seen in Miami, teams tend to favour cautious choices in the race, where a one‑stop strategy could again be preferred this year.

IN 2025

The two‑stop strategy proved to be the quickest compared with a single pit stop, which was tested only by those starting from the second half of the grid. At the start, teams were almost evenly split between Medium and Hard. The latter turned out to be the most competitive tyre, while the yellow compound suffered slightly due to higher temperatures than on the opening day. During a late neutralisation, four drivers also fitted the Soft for a final sprint to the chequered flag.

STATISTICS

This year will see the 55th edition of the Canadian Grand Prix. It will be the 45th held on the circuit built on the Île Notre‑Dame, as the first editions took place at Mont‑Tremblant and Mosport Park, near Toronto. The drivers with the most wins, seven apiece, are Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, who also share the record for the most pole positions with six each. McLaren holds the record for victories among constructors with 13, followed by Ferrari on 12. Canada also retains the record for the longest Grand Prix in Formula 1 history, a mark that will stand unless the regulations change. The 2011 race, won by Jenson Button and interrupted by torrential rain, lasted 4 hours, 4 minutes and 39 seconds.

The race was brought forward by three hours due to adverse weather forecasts for the originally scheduled start time of the Grand Prix. From the start, at 13:00 local time, the cars delivered plenty of action, with overtaking already in the opening laps. In the early stages, incidents involving Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly prompted the deployment of the Safety Car. The neutralisation was exploited by Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas, who brought forward their pit stops.

The Red Bull driver, after a difficult start, managed to rejoin the fight for the podium by switching from Medium tyres to a set of Hards on lap six. The Cadillac driver instead opted for Softs on the same lap, before stopping again on lap 21 to move onto Mediums.

Isack Hadjar was the only driver to start from the pit lane on Hard tyres, while the rest of the grid lined up on Mediums. Only the Aston Martin drivers mirrored Bottas’ strategy, choosing Softs at the tyre change. With the exception of Bottas, Alonso and Stroll, all the others therefore switched to Hards. Strategies were almost exclusively one-stop, apart from Stroll and Bottas, who made two visits to the pit lane.

In the championship battle, Antonelli extends his advantage over his rivals even further: the nineteen-year-old now leads the standings with 100 points, compared to George Russell’s 76.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

The race was very straightforward from a strategic point of view, despite the uncertainty over possible rain remaining right up to the last moment. The only real variable was the Safety Car on lap six, which allowed some drivers, including Verstappen, to pit early and differentiate themselves from the rest of the field. In the Dutchman’s case, this seems to have paid some dividends.

Beyond that, all drivers on the grid opted for the flexibility of starting on the Medium, with the majority replacing it within the window we had anticipated. The lower temperatures compared to previous days further reduced tyre degradation. A clear example was Verstappen’s final stint of 51 laps on the Hard, completed without any need to manage the pace. The same trio of compounds will be used at the next round in Montreal in three weeks’ time.

The Formula 2 race was also brought forward due to the day’s weather forecast, but the event nevertheless took place in wet track conditions. It proved to be an interesting test for the young drivers, who were able to showcase their skills at the wheel. At the end of the Feature Race, the Italian national anthem was played thanks to Gabriele Minì’s victory. Dino Beganovic finished second, ahead of Rafael Câmara. Nikola Tsolov remains at the top of the championship standings with 35 points, followed by Minì and Câmara, level on 34. The next round is scheduled for the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix, from 22 to 24 May.

Qualifying took place in very hot conditions on Saturday, with air temperatures around 35 degrees and track temperatures close to 52 degrees. All drivers opted for the Soft compound, with the sole exception of Nico Hülkenberg, who completed his first run on a used set of Mediums.

With a time of 1:27.798, Antonelli was almost two tenths quicker than Verstappen, who stopped the clocks at 1:27.964. They were the only two drivers to dip below the 1:28 barrier. Leclerc followed just under two tenths behind Verstappen.

Lando Norris, meanwhile, claimed victory in this morning’s Sprint on a circuit where he clearly feels at home. Behind him, team-mate Oscar Piastri finished second, allowing the Woking-based team to secure a one-two. Behind the duo, Charles Leclerc crossed the line in third place. The Monegasque managed to put Piastri under pressure, but the Australian did well to keep him behind.

During the Sprint race, temperatures reached around 33 degrees, forcing the drivers to compete in extreme heat conditions. All Pirelli compounds were used in the Sprint. The Aston Martin drivers opted for the Softs, the Cadillac drivers for the Hards, while the rest of the field chose the Mediums.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented to Antonelli by Colin Farrell. The Irish actor has won three Golden Globes and was nominated for an Academy Award for the film The Banshees of Inisherin. The star also features in the television series Sugar on the Apple TV+ platform.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

The one-stop strategy is confirmed as the fastest option for tomorrow, as we had already expected ahead of the race weekend. The compounds selected for Miami have proven to be consistent and with low degradation. Extending the stints to make just one pit stop is therefore not an issue. By contrast, a two-stop strategy would be penalised by around 10 seconds compared to a single stop. On paper, the Medium-Hard solution, with a pit window between laps 22 and 28, is the quickest and offers the advantage of flexibility in the event of neutralisations, which are frequent in Miami. The Soft could be a valid option, exploiting its higher grip, when used in combination with the Hard. Starting on the C5, the pit stop should be made between laps 16 and 22. Less effective in terms of lap time is the Medium-Soft pairing, which would have a pit window between laps 32 and 38. Obviously, the entire day will be influenced by the weather forecast, which could even lead to a wet race.

 The Formula 2 Sprint race took place today, which as always features a reverse-grid start. From the early stages of the race it was clear that the fight for victory would be between Nikola Tsolov and Laurens van Hoepen. The two drivers overtook each other several times during the race, but in the end it was Tsolov who pulled clear to take the win. The intense battle between the pair allowed Alex Dunne to close the gap. Although the Irishman managed to get closer to the leading duo, he was unable to realistically insert himself into the fight for victory. All drivers completed the race using the Medium compound.

During FP1, the teams focused mainly on the C3 compound, which is the Hard tyre for the Miami race weekend. In the second half of the session, almost all the drivers switched programmes, moving onto the C4 or C5 and therefore running all the compounds available for the weekend. As it is a Sprint weekend, the teams will have to return only one set of tyres at the end of the day.

The reigning World Champion, who claimed his first Grand Prix victory here in Miami in 2024, appears particularly comfortable on the circuit that winds its way around the Hard Rock Stadium. He secured pole position in Sprint Qualifying ahead of Kimi Antonelli, who finished second, more than two tenths of a second adrift of the Briton. Third place went to Oscar Piastri. The two McLaren drivers will therefore line up in the first two rows for Saturday’s Sprint race.

As per the regulations, only Medium tyres were used in the first two qualifying segments, with a single set allocated for SQ1 and one for SQ2. The ten fastest drivers were then allowed to switch to a set of Soft tyres for SQ3. Prior to this final session, there was a thrilling battle for a place in the top ten. Both Audis were very close to Pierre Gasly, but the Frenchman managed to stay just ahead of the German team’s pair, relegating Gabriel Bortoleto to 11th place and Nico Hülkenberg to 12th on the grid for tomorrow.

In SQ3, Norris was the quickest with a lap of 1:27.869, the only driver to dip below the 1:28 barrier. As a result, Norris claimed the Pirelli Sprint Qualifying Award, presented by Pirelli Motorsport Director Dario Marrafuschi.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

Today’s free practice session felt like a real step back in time. The extension to 90 minutes allowed us to gather a large amount of data over meaningful mileage that would not normally be covered in a standard one-hour session. The most widely used compound was the Hard, the most suitable for the analysis work carried out today on power units and aerodynamic updates. The information gathered in Miami will also be useful for the upcoming rounds, as the C3 is the compound that appears most frequently in race weekend selections.

The laps completed on the Medium and Soft tyres, on the other hand, made it possible to identify the performance delta between the three compounds, which was quantified at around half a second, in line with simulation expectations. Track conditions are not yet optimal, as shown by a few lock-ups into Turn 1, but they will improve progressively through to Sunday. Today the degradation observed was limited and purely thermal in nature, due to record-high track temperatures.

It is interesting to note that in Sprint Qualifying there is only a 1.4-second gap compared to last year’s best time. With this new generation of cars, the gains achieved through the Miami corners taken with the DRS closed clearly seem to compensate for the lower straight-line speeds.

Kush Maini claimed pole position today in the Miami qualifying session. The ART Grand Prix driver was quicker than second-placed Rafael Câmara and Martinius Stenshorne. The American crowd witnessed a Formula 2 qualifying session of the very highest standard, with the top 21 drivers covered by less than one second. An intriguing Saturday lies ahead in Miami, when the F2 drivers will return to the track for the Sprint Race.

The compounds selected for the weekend are Medium and Supersoft, with a step between the two options. This very difference could prompt some teams to consider starting Sunday’s Feature Race on the Supersoft, in order to gain an early advantage.

The softer compound will clearly suffer from higher degradation, unlike the Medium, which should deliver more consistent performance over a longer stint. Miami has also accustomed us to sudden changes in weather conditions.

Should temperatures be cooler, for example after a downpour, drivers may need to pay closer attention to warming up the yellow-marked tyre, while stints on the Supersoft could be extended by a few laps. However, the latter may be prone to graining, a phenomenon that drivers could manage to limit through careful pace management.

To tackle the 19 corners and three long straights of the Miami International Autodrome, as it was named for its inaugural race in 2022, teams will have access to the three softest compounds in the Pirelli range: C3, C4 and C5. The asphalt, resurfaced in 2023, has a low level of roughness and gains grip over the course of the weekend as the track evolves.

One interesting characteristic that emerged last year was how quickly the circuit dried. This was clearly demonstrated during the Sprint, the short race that will also feature this season, when drivers switched from intermediate tyres to slicks during the 19 laps, despite the heavy rain that had fallen before the lights went out. Variable weather conditions could once again spring surprises over the course of the weekend.

There should be fewer uncertainties when it comes to race strategy. Tyre degradation in Miami has always been limited, thanks to the characteristics of the circuit, allowing drivers to extend their stints and make just a single pit stop during the race. Another factor to consider on Sunday is the possibility of neutralisations, which are common on any street circuit, where precision is crucial to avoid contact with the barriers.

IN 2025

Last year’s Grand Prix, won by Oscar Piastri, was very straightforward from a strategic point of view. At the start, drivers split between those who opted for the Mediums and those who chose the Hards, keeping their options open in case of a neutralisation or a sudden change in weather conditions. The pit stop window was essentially around mid-distance, with fairly long stints encouraged by the very low degradation of all the selected compounds.

STATISTICS

Of the four editions held so far on the circuit around the Dolphins’ stadium, half have been won by Max Verstappen. The two McLaren drivers have instead shared the victories in the last two seasons. After Lando Norris claimed his first Formula 1 win in 2024, it was his team-mate who took the chequered flag in 2025. However, neither of the Papaya drivers has ever secured pole position at this event: Verstappen has two poles to his name, while the others were taken by Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez.

Support races

The Miami weekend will be entirely under the Pirelli banner. All the support categories at the Formula 1 event are series supplied with tyres by the Italian company. The second round of Formula 2 has been relocated to Florida following the cancellation of the two previous races originally scheduled. Adding further depth to the weekend will be the McLaren Trophy North America, featuring the Artura Trophy Evo, and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America. The latter series, which fields the new Porsche 911 Cup, has been supplied by the long P brand since this year, with Pirelli providing, as it does for the other GT championships, the P Zero DHG introduced last season.

PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

The Miami podium cap, designed by Denis Dekovic for Pirelli Design, is inspired by a sea predator. Just like shark skin, the colour of the special edition podium cap features shades of grey. The animal is also referenced by the stickers on the visor, depicting either the jaws of the mammal or its body. The Pirelli cap is already available for purchase on the e-commerce platform https://store.pirelli.com.

Hot Laps

Miami will be the opening round of the 2026 Pirelli Hot Laps programme, which for eight years has given fans the unique thrill of a high-speed lap on some of Formula 1’s most iconic circuits during race weekends. Guests and VIPs can enjoy an unforgettable experience by sitting in the passenger seat of a Pirelli-shod road-going supercar, alongside a professional driver, for a full lap of the track. After the Florida event, the programme will continue in Monaco, Silverstone, Monza, Austin, Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi. This year, seven manufacturers have provided their latest models: Alpine, Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Ford, McLaren and Mercedes AMG. In 2025, the lucky passengers completed more than 2,500 laps across 32 on-track sessions, with 69 different drivers at the wheel, including current Formula 1 drivers as well as endurance racing and GT specialists.

The first American race of the season (1-3 May) comes after a one-month break in the championship, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. The characteristics of the circuit built around the Dolphins’ stadium, featuring very smooth asphalt, allow the use of the softest end of the F1 range. Degradation is predominantly thermal, due to the high temperatures in Florida, but last year, when the compounds were nominally the same, it proved to be limited. This created the conditions for numerous on-track battles in the opening phase of the race, when drivers were able to push without particular limitations.

In Canada (22-24 May) the softest selection will also be used, thanks to a track surface that is not very abrasive and to provide adequate grip in areas where the cars are subjected to heavy deceleration. Last year, when the range extended up to C6, the trio including that option was used, although what was then the Soft compound remained on the fringes of race strategies, which were already geared towards two stops using only Hard and Medium. Compared to Miami, Montreal also brings the weather variable into play, particularly given the earlier slot in the calendar.

As with the previous two rounds, the third race of the season saw significant shuffling through the field after lights out. While Antonelli struggled off the line, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc enjoyed excellent starts. This allowed Piastri to seize an immediate lead, which the McLaren driver maintained until his scheduled pit stop.

Although his stop was clean, a Safety Car was deployed just a few laps later, playing right into Antonelli’s hands. Having not yet pitted, the young Italian capitalised on the situation to retain the lead, a position he did not relinquish for the remainder of the afternoon. Clearly the fastest man on track, Antonelli quickly pulled a gap on the chasing pack following the restart.

Behind him, Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Leclerc were in a superb battle for the remaining podium spots. Notably, Hamilton also made the most of the Safety Car, mirroring Antonelli’s strategy by pitting immediately.

Piastri eventually emerged at the head of that pack to finish secon. Behind the McLaren driver, Leclerc ultimately claimed third; the Monegasque driver came out on top after a brilliant wheel-to-wheel battle with Russell, who had to settle for fourth at Suzuka. 

As anticipated, weather conditions remained fair on Sunday, though slightly cooler than during Friday and Saturday's sessions. While the sun dominated the early part of the weekend, the race was held under overcast skies with temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius.

Consequently, the race unfolded largely as expected from a strategic standpoint. Most of the grid opted for a one-stop strategy, with every driver—except Valtteri Bottas—starting on the Medium (C2) compound. Bottas chose to start on the Hards (C1); while the rest of the field switched to the Hard tyre for their second stint, Bottas moved onto the Mediums.

Antonelli now leads the World Championship standings with 72 points. Russell drops to second place with 63 points, while Charles Leclerc moves up to third with 49 points. Furthermore, Antonelli has made history as the youngest driver and the first teenager ever to lead the Formula 1 World Championship.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

The quickest strategy on paper was essentially the one adopted by all the drivers in the race, with Valtteri Bottas the only driver to do something different. No team evidently considered it worthwhile to take a risk on the Soft compound, either at the start or in the final stages, despite it remaining a viable option thanks to the low degradation recorded in the preceding days. Albon’s use of the C3 was clearly not driven by strategic considerations, given the high number of pit lane visits he made. During the Grand Prix, the compounds did not restrict the cars’ race pace.

The safety car triggered by Bearman’s off-track moment certainly benefited those who had not attempted the undercut, including race winner Kimi Antonelli. Without the neutralisation, we still believe that the pit stop would have taken place in the laps immediately thereafter.

Pirelli’s Japanese trip will not end today, as on Tuesday and Wednesday we have scheduled two days of testing at Suzuka for the development of next season’s dry-weather tyres. Assisting us on track, with one car each, will be the Red Bull and Racing Bulls teams.

In the Q3 session, Antonelli struck immediately during his first run, clocking a 1:28.778, a time no one was able to beat. The Italian didn’t improve on his own time during his second run, a fate also shared by his teammate George Russell. Charles Leclerc was the only driver in the top five to successfully improve his time during the second Q3 run on Saturday. The Monegasque driver qualified in fourth, just behind Oscar Piastri. This places Leclerc between the McLaren drivers on tomorrow's grid, as Lando Norris clocked the fifth-fastest time on Saturday.

This marks Antonelli's second consecutive pole position, following the previous Grand Prix in China where he became the youngest pole-sitter in history. For Mercedes, it is the third time in a row this season that both drivers will start from the front row on Sunday.

Weather conditions were once again very nice on Saturday. The sun shone during both the third free practice (FP3) and qualifying, with temperatures reaching around 20 degrees. Consequently, the track temperature rose to approximately 38 degrees.

During FP3, teams focused primarily on short runs, using only the C2 and C3 compounds. The third free practice was dominated by Mercedes, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell finishing first and second. They were followed at a significant distance by Charles Leclerc in third.

On Sunday temperatures will again reach around 20 degrees, though more cloud cover is anticipated this time. This should mean that track temperatures will typically be slightly lower than they were yesterday and today.

The Pirelli Pole Position Award was presented to Antonelli by Kotozakura. The sumo wrestler reached the Ōzeki rank in 2024, when he decided to adopt the name of his grandfather, Kotozakura Masakatsu I, a legend of the sport.

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

The two sessions held today confirmed the data generated by the simulations carried out before the event. During the free practice session, which focused on performance runs with the two softest compounds, a performance gap of around five to six tenths emerged between the C2 and the C3. The qualifying times, achieved without preparation laps, met expectations and were faster than yesterday’s thanks to the ongoing track evolution.

As anticipated, the fastest strategies for tomorrow’s race involve a single pit stop and make use of all three compounds. The two combinations, Medium–Hard and Soft–Hard, are very close in terms of total race time, although we believe teams will favour the more conservative first option.

Using the C3 provides greater grip off the line and could offer an advantage to those who choose to exploit the distance between the grid and the first braking point to gain positions over their rivals. In this scenario, the pit window runs from lap thirteen to lap nineteen, brought forward by two laps compared with the Medium–Hard solution.

Around ten seconds slower is the final possible one‑stop strategy, which involves using the Soft and the Medium, with the tyre change between laps eighteen and twenty‑four and the need to manage the softer compound more carefully at the expense of performance.

Some outsiders might also consider bringing forward the switch from the Soft quite significantly to get out of traffic, with the aim of tackling the final phases of the race, after the middle stint on the C1, with a fresh set of C3s. They would gain an advantage before the chequered flag but would need to stop twice. A safety car could favour two‑stop strategies, although historically neutralisations are not frequent at Suzuka.

The second free practice session once again saw lovely weather conditions, with sunshine and temperatures rising to about 22 degrees. Much like the first session, the track temperature peaked at around 38 degrees. Again, all three compounds were in use. This time, however, it was Oscar Piastri who clocked the fastest lap with a 1:30.133, set on the C3 compound. Finishing closely behind him were the Mercedes duo, with Kimi Antonelli in second and George Russell in third. Piastri, Antonelli, and Russell ultimately only used the C2 and C3 compounds. While these were the preferred choice for most drivers, both Red Bull drivers, along with Carlos Sainz, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, and Sergio Perez, also utilised the C1 compound during the afternoon session.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, with weather conditions expected to be similar to today. The session will take place at 15:00 local time.

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

As is well known, this year the resurfacing of the final two sectors of the Suzuka circuit has been completed. The new asphalt is overall smoother than the surface laid in 2025, yet it still offers good grip. This lower roughness has certainly helped to keep tyre degradation under control, with graining so far having no significant impact.

All three compounds can therefore be used to build race strategies that are almost certainly going to be one‑stop. The Soft, while capable of providing greater grip, is the option for which teams currently have the least data, due to the limited number of long runs carried out so far. The expected temperatures for race day, when the track will have evolved further, will also play an important role in strategic choices, as they are forecast to be around ten degrees lower than today’s.

Among the decisions made by the various teams, it is interesting to note that McLaren was the only one not to test the Hard today. It’s a peculiar choice, perhaps aimed at preserving both sets of C1s for Sunday, ensuring one fresh set is available in case of a neutralisation.

Feedback on the hardest compound, meanwhile, came from all the other teams that used a set over the course of the day, with more than positive results. It could therefore be one of the possible options for the race start, delivering a consistent opening stint without compromising performance.