Pirelli has confirmed the tyres to be used at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, the 15th round of the Formula 1 calendar.
The three softest compounds have been selected: C3 as hard, C4 as medium, and C5 as soft. This choice is one step harder than in 2025, which included the C6 compound that was not used in the race.
Each driver will have two sets of hard tyres (white), three sets of medium (yellow), and eight sets of soft (red), along with green intermediate and blue wet tyres if needed. An additional set of soft tyres is reserved for drivers reaching Q3 in qualifying. During the race, drivers must use at least two different types of slick tyres if the track is dry.
Some sections of the street circuit, notably turns 2, 3, and 4, have been resurfaced, but this is not expected to affect tyre behavior. The circuit, which is relatively smooth and low-abrasion, will produce minimal wear, likely favoring a one-stop strategy. The soft C5 compound could allow for long stints, as recently observed at Monza, which shares characteristics with Baku.
A notable factor will be temperature management, especially due to a long full-throttle section that promotes tyre cooling, potentially increasing the risk of front wheel lock-ups under braking. Ambient temperatures, although warm, will be moderated by shaded areas on the circuit.
