Which Pirelli tyres will Formula 1 teams use in 2026 Bahrain preseason test?

Details surrounding the Barcelona shakedown were scarce, with no information regarding the Pirelli compounds being used while lap counts and lap times were unofficial.

That is about to change in Bahrain, which will be an official test with media access, and one of the details that we can reveal are the tyre compounds Pirelli will bring to the first test, which starts on Wednesday, February 11, and lasts until Friday, February 13. There is another three-day preseason test on February 18.

On the first test, Pirelli will have the C1, C2, and C3 compounds available for the teams, while their full range will be available in the second Bahrain test.

Each team will be allowed to use 28 sets of tyres across the whole range, while an intermediate set is available as well.

Pirelli said: "Teams have a free choice regarding the number of sets of each compound, within the maximum number permitted for each test and in accordance with the selection rules set for the first session."

As for the second test, the teams can use 24 sets with no wet tyres available, while Pirelli said in a statement that "teams can carry over sets previously fitted at the first session, including used sets that have done no more than nine laps".

Pirelli also explained how each tyre compound can be identified. They added: "In order to facilitate identifying the different compounds during these two test sessions, the logo on the C1 and C2 will be white, those on the C3 and C4 yellow, while the softest, C5, will be red.

"In addition, the sidewall on the C1, C3, and C5 will feature a chequered flag in the banding, while the C2 and C4 will only bear the Pirelli and P Zero logos, with no additional markings."

The 2026 F1 tyres by Pirelli remain 18" in diameter, while the fronts will be 25 mm narrower as the rears' width will be decreased by 30 mm.