Formula 1 and Pirelli are developing 2027 tyres with higher degradation, aiming to create more variation in pit-stop strategies and reduce the dominance of one-stop races.
Formula 1 is targeting a new tyre approach for the 2027 season, with Pirelli developing compounds designed to produce higher degradation during races. The objective is to encourage greater strategic variation and reduce the frequency of races where a one-stop strategy is sufficient for most of the field.
The move follows the experience of the 2026 season, when one-stop strategies have been common at several circuits. According to The Race, nine of the first 15 Grands Prix of the 2026 season had predominantly one-stop races for most of the field, including the race winner.
Pirelli faced a particular challenge when developing the 2026 tyres because the company had to estimate the aerodynamic loads and downforce levels of cars that had not yet competed. Simulation data supplied by teams reportedly showed significant differences, making it difficult to predict precisely how the new-generation cars would affect tyre behaviour.
The situation is different for the 2027 development programme. Pirelli has been able to test prototype tyres using actual 2026 Formula 1 cars and power units, giving its engineers more representative information about tyre loads and performance.
Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra said the use of real 2026 cars has provided a clearer picture for tyre development compared with the previous programme, when testing relied heavily on modified “mule” cars.
Recent testing has included Ferrari and Racing Bulls. At Imola, Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Antonio Giovinazzi, together with Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, completed a combined 400 laps while evaluating 2027 tyre prototypes.
Pirelli has also conducted 2027 tyre testing at other circuits during 2026. At the Hungaroring, Alpine, Audi and Aston Martin participated in testing focused on C3 prototype compounds as part of the development programme.
The planned increase in degradation is intended to make tyre management a more significant factor during races. Higher degradation can require teams to decide between extending a stint, making additional pit stops or changing compound combinations depending on track conditions and race circumstances.
The approach builds on Pirelli’s existing objective of providing different strategic possibilities through the tyre range. During 2026, the company has already adjusted compound selections at some events to encourage additional pit-stop opportunities.
For example, Pirelli selected the C2, C3 and C4 compounds for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, with the softer selection intended to encourage more pit stops and make the Hard tyre relevant to race strategies.
However, the 2026 season has also demonstrated that circuit characteristics can produce very different tyre behaviour. At the Madring’s inaugural Spanish Grand Prix, for example, a one-stop strategy remained the most popular approach, with the three podium finishers all completing the race with one stop.
The 2027 tyre programme therefore seeks to give Formula 1 a better balance between durability and degradation. The development process is still ongoing, and the final characteristics of the compounds will depend on further testing and validation.
For Pirelli, the programme also provides an opportunity to use data from actual current-generation cars much earlier in the development process. This should help the tyre manufacturer better understand the loads generated by the cars before finalising the 2027 products.
Pirelli is already confirmed as Formula 1’s exclusive tyre supplier through the 2028 season, following the FIA’s decision in June 2026 to exercise an extension option in its existing agreement.
The development of higher-degradation 2027 tyres highlights the important role tyre technology plays in Formula 1 racing. Changes in compound performance can influence pit-stop frequency, tyre management and the range of strategies available to teams throughout a Grand Prix.