São Paulo GP 2026: Pirelli Goes softer at Interlagos

Pirelli will bring the C3 Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft to the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, moving one step softer than last year’s allocation.

Resurfacing between Turns 3–5 and Turns 8–9 adds uncertainty over grip and tyre behaviour at Interlagos. Pirelli identifies degradation as a central consideration, with practice needed to establish how the revised surface affects longer stints.

Last year’s two-stop race provides context

Medium and Soft tyres dominated the 2025 Grand Prix, when most teams stopped twice and only two drivers completed a one-stop race.

An early neutralisation influenced some pit decisions. The Hard saw limited use, with Pirelli reporting sliding on the C2 and significant degradation on the C3 and C4.

That history does not establish the fastest strategy for 2026. A softer allocation and changes to the asphalt mean teams must reassess the balance between grip, stint length and pit-stop time.

Practice offers time to compare compounds

Unlike last year’s Sprint event, the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix schedule includes three practice sessions before qualifying.

That gives teams more running to compare tyre performance and prepare for Sunday’s 71-lap race. The weekend takes place from 6–8 November, with the Grand Prix scheduled for 14:00 local time.

Degradation and weather keep options open

Pirelli describes Interlagos’s tyre loads as broadly average and relatively balanced between the axles. Its overtaking opportunities offer strategic flexibility, but sustaining pace remains essential.

Rain and temperature swings are also recurring considerations at the venue. They could bring Intermediate and Full Wet tyres into play, although Pirelli’s preview does not establish a specific weekend forecast.

The immediate task is to measure how the softer compounds perform on the resurfaced sections, then build a race plan around the conditions teams actually encounter.