Breaking news from Pirelli: new compound of tyres C6 is set to debut in Imola, the softest tyre by the Italian factory, ready to experiment it for the first time
Breaking news from Pirelli! The Italian tyre manufacturer has officially confirmed the introduction of a brand-new compound for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Making its debut at Imola will be the C6 Soft, the softest tyre in Pirelli’s entire current range
Previously tested at the post-season 2024 session in Abu Dhabi, the C6 was initially dismissed due to excessive degradation on the Yas Marina circuit’s abrasive asphalt. Despite that, Pirelli has chosen to bring it back for Imola—a track that also features a particularly aggressive surface. Temperatures might add another layer of complexity, potentially affecting the compound’s longevity. The C6 is the softest compound introduced since the Ultra Soft, last seen in 2019.
C6 compound and Pirelli’s choices for next races
Pirelli’s decision to bring the C6 to Imola stems from two strategic goals: first, to evaluate its wear rate with a view to potentially skipping intermediate compounds at future races like Monaco and Barcelona (using C6 as the soft, with C4 as the medium); second, to encourage teams to adopt two-stop strategies.
However, this strategy—mandatory in Monaco due to regulatory constraints—may prove difficult to implement at Imola. The track features a long pit lane and limited overtaking opportunities, with just one active DRS zone on the main straight. Speaking to Motorsport.com, Mario Isola addressed the challenge: “It’s a never-ending story. We try to put teams in a difficult position, and they always find a way around it”.
If the best strategy is a one-stop, they’ll do it. Or they’ll set up the car to be gentler on tyres. We introduce a more degradable compound, and they learn how to manage it. We go softer, and they adapt.“. We’ll soon see whether these latest changes will have the intended impact.
Just hours ago, Pirelli also revealed on its social channels the compound selections for the next three Grands Prix: Monaco, Barcelona, and Montréal. Monaco and Canada will feature the same line-up as Imola (C6, C5, C4), while the notoriously abrasive Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will see the hardest trio in the range (C3, C2, C1).
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP, F1