What compounds will drivers have at their disposal at Spielberg and Silverstone?

Pirelli has confirmed its tyre choices for the next two rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship, selecting opposite ends of its compound range for the Austrian and British Grands Prix.

The contrasting nature of the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone has led the Italian supplier to nominate the softest trio for Spielberg and the hardest trio for the British weekend, which will also feature the Sprint format.

At the Austrian Grand Prix, teams will run the C3, C4 and C5 compounds. The Red Bull Ring is the shortest lap on the calendar and features the fewest corners, with performance dominated by heavy braking zones and traction phases.

Tyre degradation is primarily thermal, rather than caused by lateral load, as the circuit does not subject the tyres to the same high‑speed cornering forces seen elsewhere.

Although the track surface is old and abrasive, wear is not expected to be a decisive factor, allowing Pirelli to bring its softest range without compromising race stability. The layout typically encourages aggressive qualifying runs and flexible race strategies, with the C5 likely to play a more prominent role than at most venues.

One week later, Formula 1 moves to Silverstone, where Pirelli returns to the C1, C2 and C3 compounds — the hardest in the range. The British Grand Prix will adopt the Sprint format, increasing the importance of durability across multiple competitive sessions.

Silverstone is one of the most demanding circuits for tyres, with long, high‑speed corners such as Copse, Maggotts, Becketts and Stowe generating very high lateral loads, comparable to Suzuka and Spa‑Francorchamps.

The front axle, and particularly the left‑front tyre, is heavily stressed due to the predominance of right‑hand corners. The harder compounds are therefore essential to ensure structural stability, prevent blistering and maintain consistent performance throughout the weekend.