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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STATISTICS

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

PIRELLI PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

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

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

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

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

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

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

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

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

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

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

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

FORMULA 2

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

FORMULA 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Production SCX confirms its outstanding versatility and competitiveness

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

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

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

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

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

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

DARIO MARRAFUSCHI – PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR

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

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

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

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

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

FORMULA 2

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

FORMULA 3

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

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

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

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

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

SIMONE BERRA – PIRELLI CHIEF ENGINEER

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

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

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

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

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

FORMULA 2

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

FORMULA 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE TROPHY

Photogallery at this link

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PIRELLI PODIUM CAP SPECIAL EDITION

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

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

THE CIRCUIT

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN 2025

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

STATISTICS

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

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

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

Bespoke development for a truly unique Bentley

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

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

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

P Zero: the original equipment fitment

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

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

P Zero Trofeo RS: the choice for track driving

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

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

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

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

Perfect Fit: the hallmark of Pirelli's bespoke development

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

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

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

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

Published on: 1 September 2026, 11:00 CET

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

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

A positive debut for the new Moto2™ front tyre

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

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

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

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

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.

Andrea Mabellini produced a thrilling finish. Having opened the rally by winning the Zlín city super special, the Italian ended the weekend by also claiming victory on the Power Stage. By doing so, he made up the deficit to his direct rival in the title fight and took the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale onto the third step of the podium.

The result consolidates Suninen and Mabellini’s positions at the top of the drivers’ standings and strengthens Pirelli’s lead in the tyre suppliers’ classification.

“The Barum subjected tyres and cars to a particularly severe test, with 13 special stages and more than 200 competitive kilometres tackled on demanding surfaces and in unusually high temperatures,” commented Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. “The hard compound, selected as the primary option for the weekend, delivered consistent performance and reliability through to the final stage. These results confirm the competitiveness of our product and allow us to approach the closing phase of the championship from an even stronger position.”

The Barum Czech Rally Zlín also decided the Pirelli-supported ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy title. Ville Vatanen claimed the crown after also winning the Trophy classification at the rally.

Twenty-three of the 73 crews entered for the ERC round will use Pirelli tyres. They include the leading contenders in the title fight: Teemu Suninen, who heads the standings with 80 points following his victory in Poland in the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, and Andrea Mabellini, second on 57 points in the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. Marco Bulacia will also line up on Pirelli tyres in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.

The Barum Rally features 13 special stages covering a total of 205.79 timed kilometres. The route alternates very fast sections with narrow and twisty stretches, on asphalt ranging from smooth surfaces to uneven and deteriorated sections. It also includes several gravel sections, where significant time gaps were recorded last year. Unlike previous editions, this year the route is completely dry on the eve of the rally, with high temperatures forecast for the weekend.

The rally will begin on Friday with qualifying and the ceremonial start, followed by the traditional night-time super special stage through the centre of Zlín. Saturday will feature two passes over the Pohořelice, Troják and Bunč stages, while Sunday will take in Pindula, Semetín and Kateřinice, whose second pass will host the final Power Stage.

“The Barum is one of the most complete and demanding asphalt rallies in the championship,” commented Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. “High speeds, constant changes of pace, an often uneven surface and the presence of several gravel sections require tyres capable of delivering precision, durability and grip in very different conditions. We will make the hard and soft options from the P Zero range available to our crews. Given the current conditions, with dry roads and high temperatures, the hard is the reference compound, while the soft completes the allocation. We arrive in Zlín leading the tyre suppliers’ standings and with Suninen and Mabellini occupying the top two places in the drivers’ standings: the objective is to continue what has so far been a very positive season.”

The Barum Czech Rally Zlín will also host the final round of the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, a competition supplied exclusively by Pirelli and dedicated to developing young drivers. P Zero tyres in hard and soft compounds will also be available for the Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars.

The foils and rudder of the AC75 were also developed with Pirelli’s technological contribution, using innovative materials designed to enhance the Italian boat’s performance

Milan, 11 August 2026 – Pirelli is expanding its brand presence on Luna Rossa’s boats. Ahead of the 38th America’s Cup, the company’s logo - already featured on the mainsail - will also appear on the foils and rudder of the AC40 and AC75 boats.

Furthermore, regarding the appendages that provide control to the AC75 “flying” vessel, Pirelli (Official Sponsor and Technical Partner) has contributed technological expertise to the Luna Rossa development team by sharing its know-how on innovative materials. This represents a transfer of skills from the tyre industry to the marine sector, aimed at boosting the performance of the Italian AC75.

PIRELLI’S TECHNOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE AC75 FOILS

Like real wings, the foils generate the lift needed to raise the hull above the water, enabling the vessel to reach the high speeds characteristic of this type of boat.

Pirelli has brought its expertise to bear on the hydrodynamic performance of the boat's appendages, helping to optimise their behaviour in the most demanding phases of sailing. The collaboration draws on the company's long-standing advanced materials research – the same field behind solutions such as PNCS (Pirelli Noise Cancelling System), the technology designed to reduce rolling noise generated within the tyre's internal cavity. Expertise developed in the automotive world is now finding new applications, including the one currently under development with Luna Rossa.

The new livery, featuring Pirelli-branded foils and rudder, will be visible from September on the AC40, the 40-foot foiling monohull used for training and preliminary regattas, and from November on the AC75, the 75-foot yacht with which Luna Rossa will compete in the 38th America’s Cup.

Published on: 11 August 2026, 11:30 CET

Records, fast and tight races with highly consistent tyre performance

"This weekend’s results are extremely positive for us and confirm the strength of our solutions across different conditions. In Moto2™, the all-time lap record was improved by more than six tenths of a second, and the race lap record by over 1.3 seconds. What’s more, 23 riders were faster than Canet’s previous 2024 record, highlighting the high level of performance achieved.
Despite the many head-to-heads and temperatures significantly higher than last year’s edition, the race was 24 seconds faster overall than in 2025, and 23 seconds faster than in 2024, with an average pace improvement of around 1.4 seconds per lap.
These results confirm the value of the new 2026 standard soft SC0 rear, which made its debut here at Silverstone last year as a development solution. This tyre has shown high-level performance both over a single lap and across race distance, maintaining consistent and uniform levels from start to finish, and confirming its effectiveness across a wide range of operating temperatures.
The Moto3™ was also very good, with a race that was equally fast, and the overall race time improved by over 13 seconds on the 2025 edition.
A crucial aspect to highlight is the fact that these results were not achieved with prototype tyres, but with standard products, readily available on the market, confirming the tangible technology transfer from racing products to motorcyclists lines".

The standard rear SC0, which debuted right here in Silverstone in 2025, sets the new Moto2™ record

“The choice of compounds for this In Moto2™Grand Prix was clear since Friday morning, with all riders going for the soft SC1 front and SC0 rear combo in FP1, and then keeping it for all subsequent sessions. The data collected confirms that these solutions are effective both over a single lap and in terms of consistency, so we expect them to be the main choices in the race as well, as was already the case in the last two Silverstone editions.
Particularly significant is the result achieved by the standard SC0 rear, which, after making its debut at this circuit in 2025 as the E0125 development specification, contributed to this year’s new all-time Moto2™ lap record set by Guevara, more than six tenths faster than the previous record achieved last year by Gonzalez.
In Moto3™, the picture is more open and all compounds could potentially be used, as proven by the riders’ choices in qualifying. Ogden came very close to the lap record in qualifying with soft SC1 both front and rear, although the medium SC2 has proved to be the most balanced solution in terms of wear, and we believe it will be the most popular choice on the grid tomorrow.
So far, temperatures have remained relatively mild, and even though they are expected to be slightly hotter tomorrow, we do not expect any significant impact on the tyre’s behaviour or performance”.

THE CYBER TYRE SYSTEM’S PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL SENSORS WILL ENABLE THE OPTIMIZATION OF VEHICLE FUNCTIONALITY THROUGH THE REAL-TIME TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION

CASALUCI: IN ADDITION TO AGREEMENTS ALREADY SIGNED, THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP, WORKED ON FOR SOME TIME, WILL ENABLE THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CYBER TYRE ECOSYSTEM

SERRA: WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND ADVANCED COMPETENCIES THROUGH THE CYBER TYRE ECOSYSTEM

Milan, 5 August 2026 - Pirelli and the Abet Group have signed an agreement to jointly develop technologies aimed at the creation of remote-controlled electric ground vehicles for rescues on land and in particularly rugged and extreme environments.

Pirelli will bring to the partnership the skills and technologies developed for the Cyber Tyre, as well as the use of optical sensors, which will enable the transmission of information to the vehicle in real time enabling maximum grip in different environmental conditions and optimizing the remote control of the vehicle.

The collaboration also calls for the development of a dedicated tyre for the vehicle based on Pirelli’s proprietary Run Forward technologies, which will enable the vehicle to confront and adapt to the most extreme surfaces.

Within the scope of the agreement, it is foreseen that Pirelli and Abet High Tech Solutions will jointly develop advanced models of AI and Machine Learning, drawing on their complementary skills and experiences. The development activities aim to integrate and enhance the data coming from the vehicle and Cyber Tyre systems (sensors, cameras), with the goal of developing predictive models and innovative functionalities on board the vehicle.

Andrea Casaluci, Pirelli CEO, said: “After the partnerships signed with Bosch, Movyon, Regione Puglia, Univrses and Ridesense, we have finalized a new agreement, one we worked on for some time, which will allow us to further strengthen our Cyber Tyre platform. We knew that Cyber Tyre technology would be ideal for the driving optimization of rescue vehicles working in extreme conditions and this led us to the Abet Group as the ideal partner in this phase. Cyber Tyre technology and its applications enable the collection of data and information useful in guaranteeing greater precision and reliability of vehicles designed to move and operate in extreme conditions. This sector represents an interesting market segment that we want to explore, convinced as we are of the potential of our technology and the value that it could deliver for Pirelli”.

Fulvio Serra, Abet HTS CEO, said: “We are grateful to Pirelli for choosing Abet High Tech Solutions as technological partner for the development of the Cyber Tyre platform on our remote-controlled vehicles. The UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) represent the cutting edge of a new field in which continuing innovation becomes fundamental. We are talking about compact and essential tyre-fitted vehicles, very sophisticated in design and operating in hostile conditions: in military logistics and rescue in operational theatres and sensitive areas; in complex rescue operations following natural catastrophes like earthquakes or situations like fires or operations in highly polluted or potentially radioactive places. The reliability of the tyre and the collection of data and information greatly increase performance capacity and usage safety, making the Cyber Tyre technology indispensable.”

Following the signing of this agreement, which involves activities of strategic importance, Pirelli will proceed, together with Abet HTS, to notify the Golden Power office in accordance with article 1 of legislative decree 21/2012.

Published on: 5 August 2026, 19:05 CET

The electric SUV is equipped with three summer tyres, two winter tyres and one All Season tyre – all entirely designed in a virtual environment

All fitments feature Elect technology, enhancing the performance of the electric SUV

Milan, 5 August 2026 – The technical collaboration between the Research & Development teams at Pirelli and Porsche has reached another milestone with the development of tyres for the first all-electric Cayenne.

For the first all-electric Cayenne, Pirelli has developed six tailor-made tyre fitments through an entirely virtual design process, each engineered to match the vehicle's different characteristics across varying seasonal conditions. These include the fifth generation of the P Zero, designed to deliver the ideal balance of performance, efficiency and range, as well as the P Zero R for the high-performance Cayenne Turbo. The range also includes two winter tyre options and one All Season tyre. All are equipped with Pirelli's Elect technology, specifically developed to meet the demands of electric mobility. Pirelli Elect is a package of technologies designed for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, enhancing their performance through low rolling resistance to maximize driving range and reduce charging costs, while dedicated compounds and structures provide outstanding grip when managing instant torque and increased vehicle weight, together with improved wear resistance and lower noise levels for greater acoustic comfort.

VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PORSCHE SUV DRIVING DYNAMICS

The new Porsche Cayenne Electric sets new benchmarks in the SUV segment thanks to an advanced chassis and sophisticated control systems capable of managing drive torque within milliseconds. To support this level of engineering complexity, Pirelli adopted a fully virtual development approach, with every aspect of the new tyre fitment tested before physical prototypes were produced, significantly optimizing development times compared with traditional processes. Technical choices – including different compounds according to tyre specification, axle and size – were specifically engineered to deliver precise steering response and outstanding stability, even under the high dynamic loads generated by the all-wheel-drive electric powertrain. This development reflects Pirelli's Perfect Fit strategy, which delivers bespoke tyre solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of each vehicle.

P ZERO: PORSCHE PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY AND WET-GRIP CONTROL

For the Cayenne Electric, Pirelli has developed a dedicated P Zero, available in 21- and 22-inch sizes, with different specifications for the front and rear axles, designed for drivers seeking the optimum balance between efficiency, Porsche-level performance and safety in wet conditions. The tyre focuses on three key areas: efficiency, achieved through low rolling resistance compounds that maximize battery range; the dynamic performance expected of a Porsche, enabling demanding manoeuvres such as high-speed lane changes without compromising stability; and outstanding wet-weather safety.

P ZERO R: TRACTION AND GRIP WITH THE DNA OF THE 911

Alongside the P Zero, Pirelli has developed a dedicated 22-inch P Zero R, with specific front and rear axle specifications, to unlock the full performance potential of the Porsche Cayenne Electric. Pirelli developed specific compounds to meet the traction and grip requirements of the high-performance Turbo version, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds. The P Zero R features an ultra-high-performance compound developed from Pirelli's extensive motorsport expertise, delivering performance close to that of the semi-slick P Zero Trofeo RS. It uses the same compound as the one developed for the 911, adapted to meet the challenges of the Cayenne Electric's greater weight and increased wear demands. Its balance has been fine-tuned through different compounds for the front and rear axles, together with an optimized contact patch, ensuring that the instant torque delivered by the electric motors is translated into maximum longitudinal traction while maintaining exceptional stability throughout every phase of driving. This approach provides extremely precise and responsive driving experience, fully enhancing the vehicle's dynamic capabilities despite its high torque output.

In addition to the P Zero family, Pirelli has developed a dedicated Scorpion Winter 2 as the approved winter fitment, available in 20- and 22-inch sizes, as well as a 20-inch Scorpion MS All Season tyre.

Published on: 5 August 2026, 11:00 CET

At Silverstone, the SC0 measures Moto2™'s progress
 
“For this weekend's round at Silverstone, one of the most iconic and technically demanding circuits on the World Championship calendar, Pirelli will once again provide standard range tyres for both classes, featuring the rear soft SC0 compound that made its Moto2™ debut at this very circuit last year as the E0125 development option. The E0125, which complemented the then standard soft tyre, was immediately appreciated by the intermediate class riders, who, on a highly demanding circuit characterised by numerous high-speed corners and changes of direction where stability is essential, focused exclusively on this new solution from Friday onwards.
Introduced again at subsequent events, the former E0125 quickly became the Moto2™ riders' benchmark, offering greater stability, outright one-lap performance and consistent performance across a wide variety of weather and track conditions. As a result, it was promoted to the new standard soft tyre for this season.
More than a year after its debut, and thanks to the significant development work carried out by the teams during this period, the SC0 has already contributed to numerous lap records this season. Weather conditions permitting, it will therefore be interesting to see whether Silverstone can deliver further progress compared with last year's benchmark”.

2026 TARGETS ANNOUNCED IN MAY CONFIRMED

***

First Half 2026

- Revenues: 3,494.5 million euro, with organic growth of +2.5% excluding effect of forex and hyper-inflation (-2.1%) and variation of the scope of consolidation (-0.5%). Including these effects, revenues were stable compared with first half 2025 (3,498.6 million euro);

- Further strengthening of High Value (82% of sales, 80% in first half 2025);

- Price/Mix: +2.5% supported by the ongoing improvement of the product mix and the positive contribution of the regional mix;

- Adjusted Ebit: 557.8 million euro (558.3 million euro in first half 2025), with margin stable at 16%;

- Net profit: +13.3% to 299.0 million euro (264.0 million euro in first half 2025) thanks also to lower financial charges;

- Net cashflow before dividends and consolidation of Xushen Tyre of -556.9 million euro, (-547.1 million euro in first half 2025 excluding the positive impact of the disposal of Dakia AB);

- Net Financial Position: -1,915.9 million euro (-2,678.7 million euro on 30 June 2025 and -1,102.0 million euro on 31 December 2025);

- Partnerships stipulated in the sustainability area linked to materials’ circularity.

Second quarter 2026

-  Revenues: 1,757.3 million euro, with organic growth of 1.4% excluding the effect of forex and hyper-inflation (+0.4%) and the variation of the scope of consolidation (-0.8%). Including these effects, growth was 1.0% compared with 1,740.0 in the second quarter of 2025;

- Price/Mix: +2.9% thanks to the improvement of the product mix and positive contribution of the regional mix;

- Adjusted Ebit: 280.4 million euro, +0.7% compared with 278.5 million euro in second quarter 2025;

- Adjusted Ebit Margin stable at 16%;

-  Net profit: +3.9% at 142.2 million euro (136.8 million in second quarter 2025).

***

Milan 29 July 2026 – The Board of Directors of Pirelli & C. Spa met today and majority approved results to 30 June 2026, with the contrary vote of board members Zhang Haitao, Xi Xiaohong and Wang Kun because of the declaration of control by MTP Spa contained in the financial report. 

The results of the first half of 2026 confirm the resilience of Pirelli’s business model and the effective implementation of the strategic programs, despite an economic context still characterized by elevated volatility and persistent geopolitical tensions.

In particular:

-  Commercial Program

In the first half of 2026 Pirelli further consolidated its leadership in High Value, the Car and Moto volumes of which grew by 3.5%, with increased market share in both businesses. The performance was supported by both the Original Equipment channel, thanks to partnerships with the principal carmakers in North America and APAC, and the Replacement channel, thanks to the strength of the Brand, quality of the offering and continuing consumer appreciation for Pirelli products.

Standard volumes decreased by -8% reflecting the strategy of growing selectivity, particularly in South America, through the reduction of exposure to segments with lower margins.

The performance described above translates for Pirelli into stable total volumes in the first half of 2026.

-  Innovation Program

In the first half of 2026 Pirelli garnered around 200 new homologations with the principal Premium and Prestige carmakers, of which 90% for rim sizes ≥19 inches. Specialties account for 70% of new homologations, while 60% are for electric vehicles (BEV and PHEV). The high level of technological content in Pirelli products earns the constant recognition of the main Premium and Prestige carmakers – as testified by the homologations obtained in the first half for the Ferrari Luce, Rivian R2S and the new Audi Q7 and Q9 SUVs – both in comparative tests in the Car segment, where Pirelli achieved 8 victories in just the first half of 2026.

In terms of the product portfolio, the offering was further broadened with the launch, in the Car replacement segment, of the new Scorpion AS 4 in North America, in Moto with the marketing of the Metzeler Sportec 01 RS and in Cycling with the introduction of the new Cinturato Gravel RH and RM. In conclusion, the development of the Cyber Tyre continues through strategic partnerships with leading operators in the fields of connectivity and autonomous driving, such as Univrses, RideSense and Niulinx, with the goal of further strengthening of the technological platform.

-  Efficiencies’ Program

In the first half of 2026 the Company achieved gross benefits of 81 million euro, equal to around 54% of the annual target, in line with expectations. The result reflects, in a particular manner, the progress of the product design program and the improvement of industrial productivity. Given the Middle East crisis and resulting impacts on the cost of raw materials, energy and transport, the company quickly activated mitigation initiatives which include price increases and additional cost containment measures.

In the first half of 2026 Pirelli registered positive performances in the principal economic indicators.

Revenues amounted to 3,494.5 million euro, with organic growth of +2.5% excluding the combined effect of forex and the application of hyper-inflation accounting (equal to -2.1% overall), as well as the variation to the scope of consolidation (-0.5%) following the sale of Däckia AB. Including these effects, stable (-0.1%) compared with the first half of 2025 (3,498.6 million euro).

High Value represents 82% of total sales (80% in the first half of 2025).

In the second quarter of 2026 revenues totaled 1,757.3 million euro, with organic growth of +1.4% compared with the same period of 2025. Growth of 1.0% compared with the first half of 2025 including the effect of forex and hyper-inflation (+0.4%) and the variation of the scope of consolidation (-0.8%).

Published on: 29 July 2026, 17:50 CET

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.

Suninen’s Škoda Fabia moved into the lead almost immediately at the revamped Rally Poland, leaving even the specialists of Silesian asphalt roads facing a hard-pressed but ultimately futile pursuit. The Finn, who won five of the 14 special stages contested, never looked likely to relinquish the lead, delivering a measured and strategically flawless drive while keeping the Lancia Y of Mabellini, his direct rival for the FIA ERC title, at a safe distance.

Pirelli also helped Adrien Rzeznik to victory in the classification for drivers competing in the Polish championship.

“The season is proving extremely positive and highly rewarding for us. The fact that we have won three rallies so far with three different tyre combinations confirms the strength of our entire product range,” said Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. “In Poland, our strategy of nominating the softer tyres from the P Zero asphalt range proved successful: the soft RA7+D and the medium RA7E enabled our drivers to secure victory in their respective categories. The medium tyre was particularly decisive thanks to its versatility and reliability in all racing conditions, proving to be the right choice both in the cooler morning temperatures and in the warmer conditions of the afternoon.”

Finnish driver Ville Vatanen won the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, for which Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier and technical partner.

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.

Pirelli heads to Poland leading the tyre suppliers’ standings following the one-two finish secured by Roberto Daprà and Teemu Suninen at Rally di Roma Capitale. The Milan-based company also equips the top three drivers in the provisional European Championship standings: Suninen leads with 48 points, ahead of Giandomenico Basso on 45 and Andrea Mabellini on 33.

The leading Pirelli-equipped drivers competing in Poland include Suninen and Marco Bulacia, both in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars, and Andrea Mabellini at the wheel of the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF.

“Rally Poland has changed completely compared with its most recent editions,” said Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli Rally Activity Manager. “The move from Masuria to Silesia presents an entirely new challenge for everyone. Speed will remain a defining feature, but long stages such as Gmina Jasienica and Hażlach will alternate with highly technical sections and changes of surface such as the one at Ochaby. The medium RA7E is likely to be the benchmark choice thanks to its balance and consistent performance, while the soft RA7+D will provide an effective option in cooler conditions or when grip levels are lower.”

For the Polish event, Pirelli will supply its crews with P Zero asphalt tyres in the medium RA7E and soft RA7+D compounds, together with the Cinturato RWD wet-weather tyre in the event of rain.

Rally Poland is also the fourth round of the season for the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 Trophy, for which Pirelli is the sole tyre supplier and technical partner. The Milan-based company thus reaffirms its commitment to supporting competitions for young talent and entry-level categories in international rallying.

***

Milan, 23 July 2026 - Pirelli won “2026 Top Graduate Employer Brands” recognition in China from 51job – a leading Chinese human resources company – for the excellent results achieved in the attraction and selection of talented university students, skills’ development and employer branding enhancement.

Launched by 51job in 2018, the "Top Graduate Employer Brands" award employs a rigorous dual-track evaluation mechanism that combines input from both employers and talented young candidates to ensure its credibility. The 2026 edition – named “Without Boundaries” - assessed participants from various perspectives, including employer brand influence on campuses, graduate training programs, culture of young talent development, depth of university-industry collaboration, and compensation & benefits competitiveness.

Pirelli's award is a powerful testament to the company's brand appeal among talented young people as well as further recognition of the company’s long-term campus talent strategy, aimed at developing upcoming generations and consolidating relationships with universities.

Year-round Campus Recruitment and In-depth University Partnerships

Pirelli has built a year‑round, deeply integrated talent strategy for its university collaborations. The company has campus recruitment drives in both spring and autumn, with targeted outreach to Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business, and Design Institutes through structured interviews, assessment centers, and real‑life business case challenges.

For the class of 2027, Pirelli offers opportunities across multiple functions: motorsports, R&D, quality, data analytics, production management, lean manufacturing, supply chain, electrical engineering, and HSE.

Structured Onboarding and Development System for Recent Graduates

For recent graduates and young new hires, Pirelli offers a two-year Warming Up @Pirelli onboarding program. The program consists of four main steps: an official welcome to understand Pirelli culture and strategy; a journey through the company functions to gain a deeper grasp of its processes; a chance to acquire effective tools and ways of working; and a final moment of self-reflection to put their initial experience in Pirelli into perspective and consider their future within the company.

Key features of the program include internationality and cross-functionality, top management speeches and interviews, exercises and simulations for on-the-job practice, and a 24/7 online digital library. For longer-term development, Pirelli has established a global training system built on four pillars: Professional Academies, School of Management, Global Activities, and Local Education. The Professional Academies deliver continuous professional training across multiple disciplines, including R&D, manufacturing, commercial, quality, supply chain, purchasing, finance, human resources, digital, and HSE.  

The company also collaborates with world-class universities and business schools to continuously advance innovation-driven talent development, which includes launching localized talent programs and offering market-specific training aligned to local business needs and employee growth paths, supporting employees' skill enhancement and career progression.

Inclusive and Diverse Corporate Culture and Employee Care

Pirelli is committed to fostering an open, fair, and inclusive international working environment. The company upholds the key values of "Inclusion, Enhancement and Equal Opportunities," valuing each employee's uniqueness and skills. In terms of people care, Pirelli has launched the global “MORE” welfare program, built on three pillars “FOR YOU”, “FOR YOUR FAMILY” and “FOR YOUR COMMUNITY”, providing comprehensive health support, family care, and community volunteering opportunities.

Published on: 23 July 2026, 12:02 CET

22 July 2026 – Pirelli, Pyrum, Synthos and BASF are jointly advancing a tyre-to-tyre circular economy initiative in Europe, driving the development of an industrial ecosystem designed to increase the use of recycled materials derived from end-of-life and scrap tyres.

The process draws on end‑of‑life tyres collected across Germany, from some Driver retail outlets and motorsport activities, as well as scrap tyres collected from Pirelli's Breuberg plant. They are processed through an industrial chain designed to maximize their inner value, converting them into secondary raw materials – including synthetic rubber – certified under the ISCC PLUS scheme. This ensures traceability along the value chain and enables the circular materials’ reintroduction into the manufacturing of new Pirelli tyres, maintaining their highest standards of quality and performance.

Within this process, Pyrum converts end‑of‑life and scrap tyres through a pyrolysis process — a high-temperature thermal decomposition of materials in the absence of oxygen — into two valuable secondary raw materials: recovered carbon black (rCB) and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO). The recovered carbon black is upgraded in quality and directly reintroduced into Pirelli’s European production, partially replacing virgin carbon black.

At the same time, the TPO is supplied to BASF, where it is co-fed with fossil-based feedstock into the production process of chemical products such as butadiene and styrene. A mass balance approach enables attributing the recycled content to the ISCC PLUS-certified Ccycled® products. These circular materials are then used by Synthos to produce ISCC PLUS‑certified synthetic rubber for high-performance tire applications, which Pirelli reintroduces into its production processes, closing the loop.

The project perfectly reflects that genuine product circularity cannot be achieved by a single company acting alone. It requires creating industrial ecosystems involving players with complementary expertise, each contributing to different phases of the transformation process around a shared material loop. Through collaboration and the combination of technological innovation, material science, and certified processes, the partners, driven by Pirelli, build a coordinated system in which materials are recovered, transformed and reused by maximizing their inner value.

The European tyre‑to‑tyre project represents the most comprehensive application of this approach to date, demonstrating how end‑of‑life tyres can become a valuable resource within a structured and traceable industrial loop.

About Pirelli

Established in Milan in 1872, Pirelli is a major player in the tyre industry and the only global manufacturer focused solely on the Consumer tyre market, which includes tyres for cars, motorcycles and bicycles. With a distinctive positioning in High Value tyres, the Group stands as a global brand known for its cutting-edge technology, high-end production excellence and passion for innovation that draws heavily on its Italian roots. Pirelli’s technological excellence is also nourished by the innovation and competencies derived from sporting competitions, in which it has been active for over 115 years. At present, the company participates in over 350 car and motorcycle sport events and since 2011 it has been the Global Tyre Partner to the Formula One™ World Championship.

About Pyrum

Pyrum Innovations AG has revolutionized the recycling market for end-of-life tires. Since 2008, the company has been developing an innovative thermolysis technology that enables end-of-life tires and plastics to be recycled with virtually no emissions. The process can recover high-quality products such as pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black (rCB) which are used by renowned partners to manufacture new products. In this way, the company closes the material cycle and pursues a sustainable business model in line with climate targets. Prestigious certifications such as REACH and ISCC Plus prove the quality and sustainability of the products.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 95,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

About Synthos

Synthos is the largest producer of synthetic rubber in Europe, the world’s leading producer of solution styrene-butadiene rubber (SSBR), and the leading European producer of expanded polystyrene (EPS). Through its synthetic rubber technologies and ISCC PLUS-certified solutions, Synthos supports tire manufacturers in meeting demanding performance requirements while enabling the use of certified circular feedstock routes. The company’s portfolio includes synthetic rubber, insulation materials, dispersions, adhesives, and crop protection products. Synthos is part of the MS Galleon Group, owned by Michał Sołowow, one of Poland’s leading private investors and industrial entrepreneurs. The company has six production sites in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and France, four research and development centres, and employs around 3,600 people. Further information at www.synthosgroup.com.

Pirelli Media Contact

Tel. +39 02 6442 4270 - pressoffice@pirelli.com - www.pirelli.com

Pyrum Media Contact

Tel +49 221 9140 970 - presse@pyrum.net - www.pyrum.net

BASF Media Contact

Tel. +49 1525 6449978 - birgit.hellmann@basf.com - www.basf.com

Synthos Media Contact

Tel. +49 170 4547548 marjolein.groeneweg@synthosgroup.com - www.synthosgroup.com

Published on: 22 July 2026, 12:10 CET

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.

In Race 1, the Team WRT pairing took the lead after a frantic start and held it to the finish. Valentino Rossi, who had started from pole position in the number 46 BMW, received a 10-second penalty for exceeding track limits. The incident involving Rossi's car helped trigger a multi-car collision involving Andrea Frassineti and Daniel Juncadella. After the restart, Weerts built up the gap, which van der Linde then managed through the second half of the race. Rossi and Max Hesse, who had dropped to ninth as a result of the penalty, recovered to finish sixth. Second place went to the Porsche of 24 Hours of Spa winners Bastian Buus and Ricardo Feller, ahead of the Mercedes-AMG of Lucas Auer and Maro Engel, runners-up at Spa.

In Race 2, the van der Linde/Weerts BMW repeated their win after chasing the Mercedes of Juncadella and Jules Gounon, of the Verstappen team, which had started from pole, for half the race. Third place went to the Winward Racing Mercedes of Auer and Engel, who consolidated their lead in the drivers' championship by holding off repeated attacks from fourth-placed Valentino Rossi over the final two laps.

"It was a straightforward weekend from a tyre perspective, as they confirmed their reliability and consistency of performance even in high temperatures and in the sprint races," commented Matteo Braga, Pirelli's Circuit Activity Manager. "On a demanding circuit like Misano, the ability to manage the tyres through the different phases of the race and to read how the track evolved over the weekend were the key factors that allowed the winners to make the difference."

In the other Pirelli-equipped competitions held at Misano over the weekend, the GT2 European Series was won by Marius Aigner and Reinhard Kofler in the MZR team's KTM X-Bow GT2 in Race 1, and by Mikkel Njor and Ethan Gialdini in the CMR team's Ginetta G56 GT2 in Race 2.

In the GT4 European Series, extreme temperatures put the series-derived cars to a severe test. Nonetheless, they held nothing back, pushing to the limit in both races. In Race 1, victory went to Charlie Hart in the Elite Motorsport McLaren, while Gregory Guilvert took Race 2 in the Speedcar team's Audi.

Michael O'Brien won Saturday's McLaren Trophy race, and Guido Lucchetti dominated Sunday's.

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.

Published on: 16 July 2026, 19:02 CET

“Returning to Misano is one of the highlights of our season, both because of the strong public attendance and the technical characteristics of the circuit,” said Matteo Braga, Circuit Activity Manager. “The P Zero DHG tyres will face a demanding workload, particularly because of the heavy decelerations required by the circuit’s 16 corners. The stresses increase especially through the sections where the drivers aim to carry as much speed as possible, with continuous load transfers between the front and rear axles caused by the succession of braking and acceleration phases. Another factor to consider will be the high temperatures expected over the weekend.”

As in the endurance races, cars competing in the Sprint Cup and in the other series supported by Pirelli at the Misano round – the GT2 European Series, GT4 European Series and McLaren Trophy – will have the P Zero DHG available in a range of sizes suited to every GT class. In the event of rain, the crews will instead be able to rely on the Cinturato WHB.

The new SCX supersoft confirms its strong performance
 
"The overall outcome at Donington Park is very positive in terms of performance and general tyre behaviour, with new records scored for qualifying, race pace and total race distance. Compared with last year’s event, the new 2026 rear tyres delivered a significant performance improvement, despite the unusually hot temperatures for this region.
While the new extrasoft SCQ tyre once again proved an excellent qualifying performance right from the start, as shown by Bulega’s Superpole lap record, the SCX supersoft allowed the leading WorldSBK riders to maintain a much faster pace than in the past, with very limited performance drop-off on a circuit traditionally characterised by high tyre wear.
Chosen as the reference tyre for long races and by most riders - including all podium finishers - in the Superpole Race, the new SCX took things a step forward, compared with the 2025 version, improving the lap record and overall race times. This was clearly shown by Race 2 lasting a whopping 24-second less, the equivalent of an average gain of one second per lap.
Another aspect worthy of mention is that this tyre is available on the market and may be purchased by all riders.
On an ending note, I would like to congratulate Ducati and the Aruba.it Racing team on securing the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ World Championships”.

Major improvements in both classes compared with previous editions
 
“Today’s races confirmed what had already emerged over the first two days at Sachsenring. In Moto2™, both medium development rear tyres compounds proved competitive, while in Moto3™, the SC2 once again confirmed itself as the reference solution for both front and rear.
For the intermediate class, the rear tyre choice was determined above all by all riders individual preference, rather than by any clear performance indication, as it often happens when the available solutions deliver very similar levels of performance. Those who opted for the D0922 specification - including the three podium riders - chose a familiar and extensively proven solution that has consistently delivered excellent results in the past. Both specifications showed a very positive and broadly equivalent performance, with the final outcome basically depending on each rider’s interpretation and performance.
A particularly significant aspect is the overall performance level shown by the two categories. In Moto3™, the race was clearly faster than in 2025. In Moto2™ the most accurate comparison should be done with the 2024, as last year’s edition was run over a shorter distance. Here too, the improvement was clear. Finally, further confirming the high-performance level achieved, new race lap records were set in both classes, with Holgado improving the previous Moto2™ record by more than one second.”

Significant performance gains with Pirelli’s new standard rear tyres
 
"The first two days at Donington were marked by unusually high temperatures for this part of the world, with the track reaching 50°C. Despite the intense heat and a surface that, as is traditionally the case here, offered relatively low grip during the opening sessions, the progressive improvement of the track conditions allowed the riders to achieve outstanding performance levels. As twelve months ago, we once again opted for the softest rear solutions in the range. The major difference for this eighth Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship is the new 2026 standard rear tyres – the SCQ and SCX – now available, which enabled a significant step forward over a single lap and, even more importantly, over race distance.
In Superpole, the extrasoft SCQ rear immediately proved highly effective, allowing Bulega to maintain his unbeaten qualifying record while lowering the all-time lap record by two tenths of a second. Although Donington has historically been one of the most demanding circuits in terms of rear tyre wear, especially on the right-hand side because of its many fast, sweeping corners, it will be interesting to see whether, should temperatures remain this high, any riders choose to tackle the Superpole Race using this specification - the softest tyre in the entire Pirelli range.
The supersoft SCX rear also confirmed its potential from the very first sessions and helped riders lap below the previous 2024 race lap record, already during Free Practice. However, the most significant figure is not the one-tenth improvement in the fastest race lap compared with the old record, but rather the gain over the full race distance. Congratulations to Iker Lecuona on his maiden WorldSBK victory: he completed the 23 laps of Race 1 more than 28 seconds faster than the 2025 winner, corresponding to an average improvement of over 1.2 seconds per lap. These figures clearly demonstrate how our continuous development work is translating into consistent performance gains, both over a single lap and across the full race distance". 

Both medium rear tyres confirm their competitive streak in Moto2™
 
"The first two days at the Sachsenring were very useful for gathering data and feedback on the two medium compound development rear solutions provided to Moto2™ riders. The D0922 specification is an already well-established solution, and has been used successfully on this very track last season as well, while the new F0468 made its first appearance with Moto2™ riders on Friday. While they both employ the same compound, their structure differs.
The feedback received from the riders broadly confirms the expectations that emerged during the development phase. The D0922 offers a slightly higher level of initial grip, and this made it the preferred choice for qualifying, and allowed the new all-time lap record to be set. While the F0468, despite providing a slightly lower grip in the opening laps, allows managing wear more effectively and ensures greater performance consistency over the distance. This is why we believe the new solution will be the main choice for many riders in tomorrow’s race. As for the front, the soft SC1 continues to be the go-to option for the entire grid.
In Moto3™, on the other hand, we expect the scenario to be roughly similar to what we have witnessed last season, with the medium SC2 being the almost unanimous choice for the back tyre, and also widely preferred at the front, although some riders may opt for the soft SC1, based on to their own set-ups and riding style".

Among the highlights of the 2026 edition is the new Ferrari Luce, for which Pirelli has developed a bespoke P Zero E: the tyre that combines high performance with more than 55% bio-based and recycled materials, together with low rolling resistance, in a record-setting 24-inch size. Representing the sportiest end of the range is the P Zero Trofeo RS, fitted on the Bentley Supersports, Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with Manthey Kit, and BMW M2 with M Performance Track Kit. Also equipped with Pirelli’s semi-slick tyre is the Pagani Utopia Roadster, the first car to adopt Cyber Tyre, Pirelli’s technology that enables tyres to communicate directly with the vehicle’s electronic systems through integrated sensors. In the luxury and comfort segment, the Rolls-Royce Spectre and Jaguar Type 01 are fitted with P Zero Elect tyres, developed specifically for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Both models also feature large-diameter tyres of up to 23 inches.

Among the vehicles fitted with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres is the Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear megacar, as well as its LEGO Technic replica, which set the speed record for a drivable LEGO car on the Goodwood Hillclimb, reaching 111 km/h.

Every tyre in the P Zero family shares a technological heritage rooted in motorsport, which has always served as Pirelli’s open-air laboratory. Through its involvement at the highest levels of competition, including more than 350 motorsport events each year, Pirelli develops technological innovations, such as virtual development processes, that are subsequently transferred to road tyre production. It is no coincidence that the tyres used by Pirelli in the world’s most prestigious racing series also carry the P Zero name, starting with Formula 1.

Published on: 10 July 2026, 13:02 CET