F1 tyres explained: what are the compounds, rules, and changes for the 2024 season?
F1 tyres explained: what are the compounds, rules, and changes for the 2024 season?
Formula 1 enters its 14th season with Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, but there were meant to be some key changes for the 2024 season.
The C0 compound was trialled at times throughout the 2023 season, but was never fully used by a team during a grand prix weekend, and Pirelli therefore decided to axe that idea.
This means that F1 will revert back to just the five tyre compounds on offer during race weekends in what is set to be a mammoth, record-breaking season.
READ MORE: F1 team-mate battles: Hamilton pressure is on at Mercedes as rivals clash
So, what are the F1 tyre compounds, rules, and changes for the 2024 season? Let's find out.
F1 tyre colours
The Italian manufacturer has been the tyre supplier for F1 since 2011 and has done a lot to aid the viewing experience of the public during that timeframe.
As well as providing strategy predictions based on information gathered across the early stages of each weekend, Pirelli also introduced different colours to the sidewalls of its tyres, to help fans understand more clearly what was going on.
This system has gone through a number of changes over the years, but the current system of white walls for the hardest compound on a given weekend, yellow for the medium, and red for the soft, is the best yet.
F1 tyre changes for 2024
Pirelli has developed five types of tyres for Formula 1 in 2024, cutting back from the six in 2023. This varies from the softest tyre [C5] to the hardest rubber [C1].
Teams will continue to have 13 sets of tyres available to them each weekend, being able to pick from between 8 softs, 3 mediums, and 2 hards across a grand prix weekend.
READ MORE: Horner and Red Bull saga has created paddock 'GOLDFISH bowl'
The compounds
Although there are five compounds of slick tyres in the range, as mentioned above, only three are available per weekend.
This means that while the C3 tyre could be nominated as the hard tyre one weekend and carry the white wall markings, it could become the soft or medium just one race later, depending on the allocation decided by Pirelli.
Although slight changes in post-season and pre-season testing, for the season itself, the standard red, yellow, and white will be back in operation.
On any given weekend, the way teams use each compound differs considerably.
The red tyre is the softest compound that Pirelli carries. The tyre is the fastest over one lap but also has the highest level of wear.
The medium tyres can be recognised by the yellow stripes. This is often viewed as the strongest tyre for a race due to its often-long lifespan and considerable pace advantage over the hard equivalent.
The white-walled hard tyres generally last longer than the other compounds.
Lacking the pace of the soft option, this compound puts a driver at a disadvantage over a single lap or a short stint but can yield benefits across a longer period.
The sport also needs tyres, which can be used when it is raining. The green-walled tyre, the intermediate tyre, has grooves in the rubber.
This allows drivers to drive on a wet track, with the grooves draining the water. But if the track is too wet, the intermediate will also lose its grip.
That's when the full wet tyre comes into play. This blue-walled tyre has far deeper treads and is designed to withstand the toughest and wettest conditions.
In recent years, however, when the conditions have required the wet tyre, the race has often been red-flagged due to the extreme lack of grip and visibility.
READ MORE: Christian Horner's wife Geri makes SHARP Bahrain arrival
The rules for this season
During the race, a driver is required to use two different types of tyres. This rule is pushed aside if rain intervenes and wet or intermediate tyres are required.
After each free practice, the teams have to hand in two sets of tyres, leaving only seven for qualifying and the race.
Of those two sets, one will be returned for Q3. The advantage for the slower teams is that they have an extra set of rubber left over for the race. Each driver also has four sets of intermediates and three sets of rain tyres.
Tyre blankets
For a driver, keeping the tyres at the right temperature is one of the most important tasks during racing. If the right temperature is not reached, the car will lack grip, and this can result in a potentially race-ending crash.
To help the drivers get started, the tyres are placed in the heat blankets before a session.
However, as the sport wants to phase out blankets, the temperature has been lowered from 100 degrees Celsius to 70.
The intention was to get rid of tyre blankets completely ahead of the 2025 season, but that has been pushed back once again due to driver and team concerns about safety.
READ MORE: F1 Explained: What is downforce and why is it important?
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
- 34 minutes ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 legend reveals flood of death threats
- 2 hours ago
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- Yesterday 22:57
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Related news
F1 legend issues DAMNING verdict on proposed rule change
Red Bull chief admits interest in poaching TWO rival stars
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860