Max Verstappen’s criticisms have been met by adjustments, and the Dutch F1 star will now interact in talks as he appears to be like to form the game’s rules for the 2026 season.
Max Verstappen’s pleas have been answered – Pirelli opted towards utilizing the C6 soft-compound tyre in Singapore and will not be deploying it on the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, following a U-turn in technique.
The Dutchman had been scathing in his evaluation of the newest era of F1 rubber, insisting the Italian producer have been “higher off leaving it at dwelling”.
Pirelli unveiled the C6 earlier this yr as a road circuit-specific design, nevertheless it sparked fury from a number of drivers, together with Verstappen, who felt it threw race weekend preparation into chaos.
“I feel I ought to have a dialog with Pirelli in some unspecified time in the future and inform them to only go away that tyre at dwelling, as a result of it makes the entire weekend very difficult,” the Pink Bull ace mentioned following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
“You don’t have any correct reference on the mediums till qualifying. It does not make any sense. Look, if the tyre does not work right here… It did not work in Monaco, it did not work in Imola, and in Montreal, it did not work both. Then you definately’re actually higher off leaving it at dwelling.”
Now, Verstappen can breathe a sigh of aid. The Singapore Grand Prix was scheduled to witness the comeback of the C6 however did not, and Pirelli have scrapped their plans to introduce the brand new tyre to the Las Vegas GP subsequent month.
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However, the alteration wasn’t triggered by the Dutchman immediately. Pirelli motorsport director Mario Isola has responded to feedback concerning the C6 tyre, telling Motorsport.com: “I’ve seen the feedback. I did not have the chance to speak to Max but, however I’ll try this [later]. In any case, it is not pressing as a result of there is no such thing as a plan to carry the C6 to some other race this yr.”
Isola additional defined: “The unique thought of taking it to Singapore and Las Vegas was deserted as a result of the vitality is way increased in Singapore, and in Las Vegas, the temperature can also be a component to think about. You possibly can generate graining on the C6, so it was probably not an possibility.”
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Nonetheless, the C6 tyre is not gone for good. Pirelli plans to reintroduce the tyre within the 2026 season, with modifications to make sure a bigger efficiency hole between it and the C5 comfortable compound rubber, thus providing a higher reward for its use.
“We’re absolutely conscious of the truth that the C5 and C6 are very shut in the mean time,” Isola added. “The goal for subsequent yr is to have these two compounds a bit extra spaced, so with an even bigger delta with the intention to have a correct place for the C6.
“It was the primary time that we have been utilizing the C6 this yr, that we determined to introduce a compound that’s softer than the C5. Now we have realized from it, and we all know that when we’re going to homologate the compounds for subsequent yr, they should be totally different.”
