Pirelli reveals softest tyre allocation for the Hungarian grand prix

Here is the thing, round 11 of the 2026 season brings us straight to Hungary for the final race before the summer break. Pirelli has officially locked in the rubber they are bringing for the weekend, and they are handing out the absolute softest compounds in their entire range with the C3, C4, and C5.

Every driver's weekend allocation is structured precisely. Teams get two sets of the hard tyre with white markings, three sets of the medium tyre with yellow markings, and eight sets of the soft tyre featuring red markings. Alongside those slicks, everyone also has access to the green intermediate tyre and the blue full wets if the weather turns. If a driver manages to reach Q3 in qualifying, a bonus extra set of softs unlocks for them. On top of that, the rulebook demands that every driver uses at least two different slick compounds during the race itself, assuming the track stays dry.

Pirelli's weekend preview highlights that the venue has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment programme over the past two years, touching the paddock, hospitality areas, the track, and grandstands. For this 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix specifically, Turns 1 and 12 have been freshly resurfaced, following previous work done on the pit lane and starting grid.

The layout measures 4.381 kilometres with 14 corners. Because of its short length and twisty nature, it earns comparisons to a kart track. There is only one real straight along the start-finish line, which stands as one of the very few overtaking opportunities. The rest of the lap throws numerous corners at the drivers, including some 180-degree bends, all to be negotiated 70 times during the race. Because of this relentless layout, setups usually mirror those used at Monaco.

Just like in the Principality, the three softest compounds take centre stage on this slow track where braking stability and traction dictate survival through rapid direction changes. The surface features pronounced roughness on the older, unrenewed sections, resulting in grip levels that rank among the lowest of the entire season alongside significant track evolution over the weekend. To make matters wilder, track temperatures at the Hungaroring usually hit the highest marks recorded all year, meaning thermal degradation punishes the rear axle heavily due to all the traction phases, while graining might plague the softer compounds.

All this degradation means one-stop and two-stop strategies will sit very close together in total race time, forcing teams to weigh strategy against track position on a notoriously tough circuit for passing. With those soaring temperatures, teams will likely lean toward the two hardest compounds available.