Those at the top of Formula One have long sought ways to engineer most of the races towards a two stop strategy. This year for the first time in F1 history, the usually processional Monaco Grand Prix was mandated by the FIA as a two stop race.
This followed the Grand Prix in 2014, where a red flag meant all the drivers had a free change of tyres and merely cruised to the end mostly in the order they started.
Pirelli have been tasked with engineering rubber which degrades more quickly than its predecessor’s bull proof Bridgestone’s. In their fifteen year tenure they have often delivered tyres which create an opportunity for different race strategies, although at times the structural integrity of the tyres has been called into question.
2024 Pirelli tyres criticised
Last year the Italian manufacturer was criticised as concerns were cited about the softer tyres in the range. They suffered from significant thermal sensuosity, inconsistency and a poor performance gap between the compounds.
Pirelli have improved the softer tyres for 2025 which had a narrow window of performance which most of the drivers had criticised for its unpredictability. They also added a softer compound in the C6 for use at circuits where deviation is traditionally low.
Whilst still sensitive to track temperature, the 2025 Pirelli rubber is more consistent, but in solving the thermal degradation inconsistency, the softer tyres have become more resilient as evident in last weekends Mexican Grand Prix.
The winning strategy was a one stop race, as was the case for the other two podium finishes, yet McLaren with just over twenty laps remaining in the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez took a gamble with Oscar Piastri who was stuck down in P7 behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli.
McLaren brave strategy call
This triggered a flurry of pit stops from the drivers ahead, with both Mercedes and Oliver Bearman deciding to stop for fresh soft rubber. Verstappen who had started on the medium was now in third place on the softer tyre and began to hunt down Charles Leclerc ahead.
His charge was timed to perfection and the fans were ribbed of a thrilling last lap battle between the Ferrari and Red Bull driver by race control issuing an unnecessary safety car for the stricken Carlos Sainz who was off line in the slower stadium section.
The 1996 F1 champion Damon Hill was not impressed with the Pirelli tyre selection which for the second week in a row featured non-consecutive compounds. Pirelli brought the C5 (soft), C4 (medium) and the C2 (hard), the intention behind this decision is to push the drivers away from the hard compound due to its lack of performance, but almost certain one stop capability.
All the front runners, bar Verstappen started the race on the soft compound and Norris who was the last to make his first pitstop ran for a whopping 33 laps. Damon hill posted on X: “Lando not stopping. 33 laps on a soft and leading. That is NOT a soft tyre!!”
Update on red Bull driver decision
Pirelli boss explains their decision
There was criticism levelled at Pirelli in the paddock following the race, and suggestions that the ‘missing a compound out’ trick had once again failed given as in Austin the race was won with a one stop strategy.
Pirelli’s F1 boss Mario Isola, was asked about the manufacturers tactic which he defended as follows: “We were treated to an interesting race here in Mexico City, not just in terms of the on-track action but also because we saw the field split between those on a one-stop and others on a two-stop.
“The medium and soft compounds both played their part, but if one were to pick a star of the day, it was without a doubt the red-banded compound. Most of the drivers chose the softest tyre for the start and for the final stint in the case of those who opted for a two-stop strategy.“Thanks to very little wear and no graining, the drivers were able to extend their C5 (soft) stint, effectively managing thermal degradation on the rears. The pit stop windows were in line with our expectations, and I believe the variety of strategies also owed something to the decision to introduce a gap in the compounds selected.
“The hard saw very little use, because it was at a disadvantage on this track that offered little grip all weekend,” Isola concluded.
Mexican GP: Verstappen furious as Norris takes lead of championship
Albon proves the hard was ineffective
Isola argues that the lack of a nailed on hard tyre being quick enough to defend from those on softer compounds meant different strategies were adopted. The decision by most to avoid the hard tyre was confirmed by Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto who started in the C2 compound which proved to be ineffective.
Williams’s driver Albon confirmed after the race his car “didn’t have the pace” and the tyre choice was a missed an opportunity to be more competitive. The British Thai driver finished the race in twelfth a lap down and 44 seconds behind Tsunoda ahead.
The soft tyre was surprisingly long lasting, as demonstrated by Norris who first stopped just three laps earlier than Verstappen on the medium and the world champion then delivered third four laps on the soft compound which was quick as he chased down leclerc for second place.
Jeopardy for Pirelli in 2026
Given the reliability of the modern F1 cars, having a variable component in racing such as tyres which degrade is vital. Yet Pirelli may have got it slightly wrong in Mexico, they could have brought compounds one step softer, although the C6 may well have melted in the searing heat in Mexico.
By making the hard tyre two steps removed from the medium, the question really is why are Pirelli taking this compound to the races at all? In reality the Italian rubber company has been collecting data all season given the massive change in downforce which is expected next season.
Whilst overall the downforce will be reduced with the new 2026 FIA regulations the smaller tyres and wheels will suffer incremental duress with the new moveable aerodynamics front and rear wings.
Lap times have been simulated to be several seconds slower than this year’s cars, but the challenge for Pirelli remains the same – deliver tyres which encourage a two stop strategy.
McLaren start war of words with Red Bull
With the sacking of Christian Horner, one of the last remaining pantomime villains exited the Formula One paddock. His long standing rivalry with Toto Wolff of Mercedes was born when the Red Bull era of dominance 2010-13 was supplanted by that of Mercedes who invested eye watering sums on their new V6 turbo hybrid power unit.
The rivalry exploded into a personal feud during the intense season of 2021, where Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went at it hammer and tongues to win the drivers’ championship.
During that infamous year, Christian Horner famously stated in an interview, “I have respect for Toto… but it doesn’t mean I have to like him”. Wolff returned the favour in 2025 when following Horner’s dismissal from Red Bull Wolff admitted he missed his “great enemy” but described him as an “a**hole” who “behaved like a real personality”….. READ MORE
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
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