Pirelli will bring the three softest compounds in its 2026 Formula 1 range to the Italian Grand Prix, with the C3 designated Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft for its home race at Monza.
The Italian manufacturer said all three compounds could feature in race strategies on Sunday, provided temperatures do not become excessively high, although a one-stop approach is currently considered the most likely option.
Rear tyre management is expected to be one of the main considerations around the 5.793-km Monza circuit, with the new generation of Formula 1 power units placing greater demands on the rear axle during acceleration.
Pirelli said the front tyres should experience lower braking loads because braking zones are expected to be approached at reduced speeds compared with previous seasons. The rear axle, however, will be worked harder when drivers deploy the full power of the new power units on corner exit.
Braking stability and traction, particularly through the First Chicane and Ascari, are expected to be key performance factors at a circuit traditionally requiring low-downforce aerodynamic configurations and an emphasis on straight-line speed.
2026 Formula 1 cars faster than their predecessors?
Team simulations are predicting lap times around two seconds faster than in 2025, while energy management along Monza’s long straights will present another challenge under Formula 1’s new technical regulations.
The circuit, which features 11 corners and remains one of the fastest on the calendar, generally provides strong grip from the opening practice sessions.
There have been no major changes to the asphalt since Monza was completely resurfaced in 2024. Kerbs at Turns 1, 4 and 8 have been rebuilt for this year’s event, while the gravel area at Turn 5 has been replaced by asphalt run-off.
Pirelli expects drivers to have to control rear tyre overheating during Sunday’s race, but degradation is not forecast to be severe enough to significantly compromise performance.
That points towards a one-stop strategy despite Monza offering more overtaking opportunities than many circuits on the Formula 1 calendar.
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix, the 77th edition of the event, is also Pirelli’s home race and the company will again serve as title sponsor.
Its association with Monza dates back to the circuit’s earliest days. Pietro Bordino won the Grand Prix that inaugurated the newly built circuit on Sept. 10, 1922, driving a Fiat 804 fitted with Pirelli tyres.
Pirelli will also continue its collaboration with the Pirelli HangarBicocca Museum of Contemporary Art by providing a specially commissioned trophy for the top three drivers and a representative of the winning team.
The FRAGILE
The 2026 trophy, called FRAGILE, was designed by Italian artistic duo vedovamazzei, formed by Stella Scala and Simeone Crispino.
The trophy consists of a layered arrangement of cups and small bowls stacked into a deliberately unstable-looking vertical structure. Its production combined traditional drawings and sketches with 3D printing using nylon powder, followed by painting, galvanising and polishing.
The artists said: “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.”
They added: “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.”
Pirelli’s annual Italian Grand Prix trophy project is now in its sixth edition, following commissions awarded to Alice Ronchi in 2021, Patrick Tuttofuoco in 2022, Ruth Beraha in 2023, Andrea Sala in 2024 and Nico Vascellari in 2025.