F1 Tyre Rules

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The F1 Tyre Rules refer to the regulations governing the use, selection, and management of tyres in the FIA Formula One World Championship. These rules are enforced by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the sport’s governing body, and are designed to ensure safety, competitive balance, and strategic variation throughout a race weekend.

Tyre Supplier

Since 2011, Pirelli has been the exclusive tyre supplier for Formula One. Each season, Pirelli provides several tyre compounds categorized by grip and durability. For dry conditions, compounds range from C1 (hardest) to C5 (softest). In wet conditions, teams use intermediate or full wet tyres.

Dry Tyres

Pirelli supplies teams with three dry-weather compounds for each Grand Prix weekend, selected from the C1–C5 range. These are labeled as:

• Hard (white)

• Medium (yellow)

• Soft (red)

These labels remain constant regardless of the actual compound used (e.g., C2 may be the “hard” at one race but the “soft” at another).

Wet Tyres

Two types of tyres are provided for wet conditions:

• Intermediate (green): For light rain or drying tracks.

• Wet (blue): For heavy rain and standing water.

Teams may switch to wet tyres at any time during a race, and the use of wet tyres automatically cancels mandatory dry tyre rules.

Allocation and Usage Rules

Each driver is typically allocated:

• 13 sets of dry tyres

• 4 sets of intermediate tyres

• 3 sets of wet tyres

Of the 13 dry sets, the allocation includes:

• 2 sets of hard tyres

• 3 sets of medium tyres

• 8 sets of soft tyres

Teams must return a certain number of tyre sets after each session, as specified by the FIA. The remaining sets are for use in qualifying and the race.

Race Tyre Requirements

In dry races:

• Drivers must use at least two different dry compounds.

• This requires one pit stop to change tyres.

• Failure to comply results in disqualification.

If the race starts under wet conditions (declared a “wet race”), this rule is suspended.

Qualifying and Sprint Format Adjustments

In standard qualifying:

• There is no mandatory tyre compound, except in special formats.

During Sprint weekends, tyre usage may be limited:

• Friday qualifying (Sprint Qualifying) may require specific compounds (e.g., medium in Q1/Q2, soft in Q3).

• Parc fermé conditions restrict setup changes after qualifying.

Tyre Strategy

Tyre management and strategy are essential in race planning. Teams analyze:

• Track temperature

• Tyre degradation rates

• Pit stop windows

• Overcut/undercut strategies

Drivers must balance tyre life with performance, as excessive wear can lead to graining, blistering, or punctures.

2022–2025 Updates

In recent seasons, the FIA and Pirelli have introduced new compounds and sustainability goals. Notable changes include:

• Introduction of 18-inch wheels (2022).

• Enhanced wet tyres that do not require tyre blankets (tested in 2023–2024).

• Reduced number of tyre sets in some races to promote sustainability.

References

• FIA Sporting Regulations, 2025 Edition. Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

• “Pirelli F1 Tyre Guide.” Pirelli Motorsport.

• Benson, Andrew. “How F1 Teams Choose Tyres.” BBC Sport, 2024.

• Smith, Luke. “Explaining F1’s Tyre Strategy Rules.” Autosport, 2023.

• “F1 2025: What’s New in the Regulations?” Motorsport.com.

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