Pirelli brought the C2, C3 and C4 compounds to the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix.
Formula 1’s sole tyre supplier selected three dry-weather slick compounds for Spa-Francorchamps: C2 as the hard tyre, C3 as the medium and C4 as the soft. The numbering describes the relative hardness within Pirelli’s range, while the race markings identify the compounds as white, yellow and red respectively.
The selection reflects Spa’s unusual demands. The circuit combines long straights and high-speed corners with heavy braking zones, large elevation changes and a surface that can stress tyres. Its location in the Ardennes also makes changing weather a familiar strategic factor.
The C2, C3 and C4 choice does not mean those were the only tyres available. Drivers could also use green intermediate tyres and blue full wets if conditions became sufficiently wet. In a dry race, regulations require drivers to use at least two different slick compounds, adding strategy to the tyre decision.