Pirelli Brings Its Softest Tyres to a Resurfaced Interlagos

Tyre management is set to decide much of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix after Pirelli confirmed it will bring its softest available allocation to Interlagos. The Italian manufacturer has nominated the C3 as the hard, the C4 as the medium and the C5 as the soft — a softer selection than last year for the final race of Formula 1's three-event swing through the Americas. The challenge is compounded by resurfacing work on two sections of the circuit, between Turns 3 and 5 and between Turns 8 and 9, where grip levels and degradation are harder to predict. Unlike last year's sprint weekend, the 2026 event features three free practice sessions, giving teams more time to learn the new surface — but also more data to argue over when strategy calls are made. With changeable weather also a possibility in Sao Paulo, teams that read the tyres best on Friday and Saturday will hold a clear advantage on Sunday. In a season where the drivers' title is already settled, this is the kind of technical puzzle that can still produce a surprise winner.