Red Bull Confirms striking decision for 2026 S…read more
Red Bull have made one of the most eye-catching strategic calls ahead of Formula 1’s first official 2026 pre-season test, opting for an aggressive tyre allocation that immediately sets them apart from the rest of the grid.
Pirelli has confirmed the tyre selections for next week’s five-day behind-closed-doors test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where teams will get their first meaningful mileage under the all-new 2026 technical regulations. While the Italian manufacturer will supply the full range of C1 (hard), C2 (medium), C3 (soft), intermediate and wet tyres, how each team has chosen to distribute its allocation reveals vastly different testing priorities.
Among them, Red Bull’s approach stands out sharply. The Milton Keynes outfit has selected a staggering 18 sets of the C3 soft compound, just one set of mediums, and no hard tyres at all. It is the most extreme soft-tyre bias of any team attending the test and underlines a clear focus on short-run performance and data gathering rather than long-run durability in the early stages of development.
The Barcelona test, which runs from January 26 to January 30, marks the first true on-track outing for the new generation of Formula 1 cars. Due to the scale of the regulation overhaul — particularly the introduction of new power units — testing has been brought forward significantly, with three separate pre-season tests scheduled ahead of the opening race in Melbourne. Each team is allowed to run on only three of the five days in Barcelona, making every on-track session especially valuable.
Red Bull will debut its RB22 in Spain without having completed a prior shakedown, a calculated move that mirrors McLaren’s approach. By contrast, Ferrari unveiled its SF-26 earlier in the week and has already carried out an initial filming-day shakedown, allowing the team to enter Barcelona with some baseline data already in hand.
McLaren’s tyre selection reflects a more balanced philosophy. The Woking-based team has opted for four sets of C1 hard tyres, 10 sets of C2 mediums and six sets of softs, suggesting an emphasis on understanding race-relevant compounds and long-run behaviour. Ferrari, meanwhile, has leaned heavily toward the medium compound, selecting a grid-leading 12 sets of C2 tyres alongside four sets of hards and just three sets of softs.
Mercedes have gone in yet another direction, choosing more hard tyres than any other team. The Brackley squad has requested eight sets of C1 tyres and 12 sets of softs, indicating a strong interest in evaluating durability and energy management under the new regulations, particularly in light of the significant power unit changes coming for 2026.
Not every team will be present in Barcelona. Williams will miss the entire test after encountering delays in passing the FIA’s mandatory crash tests. The Grove-based outfit confirmed on Friday that it has chosen to sit out the session in order to focus fully on finalising its 2026 car, prioritising long-term readiness over early mileage.
Elsewhere on the grid, Racing Bulls, Haas and Audi have all shown a clear preference for softer compounds, though none to the same extent as Red Bull. Aston Martin and Alpine have adopted more evenly spread allocations, while Cadillac, preparing for its early integration into the sport, has opted for a conservative and well-rounded selection.
As the first meaningful step into a new era of Formula 1, the Barcelona test will be closely scrutinised despite running behind closed doors. While lap times are unlikely to tell the full story, tyre choices already hint at each team’s early philosophy — and Red Bull’s bold decision to load up on softs suggests they are eager to explore the outright performance limits of their 2026 challenger from the very first lap.
