Bahrain GP 2026 Strategy: Pirelli's Plans and Who Has the Tyres to Use Them

Sepang's abrasive surface, high temperatures and a 22.5-second pit stop loss make today's Bahrain Grand Prix a proper strategy race. Pirelli has published its possible race strategies, and the tyres each driver saved through practice and qualifying show who can run which plan. Here's what to watch.

Pirelli's possible strategies

Pirelli expects at least two stops over the 56 laps, with the C2 Hard as the main race tyre. Its chart shows four options:

• Medium → Hard → Hard (fastest): stops between Laps 12–18 and 32–38.

• Soft → Hard → Hard: stops between Laps 10–16 and 32–38, trading an earlier first stop for more grip off the line.

• Medium → Hard → Soft: stops between Laps 11–17 and 34–40, with a short Soft sprint to the flag.

• Soft → Hard → Hard → Medium (three stops): stops between Laps 7–13, 24–30 and 41–47. Short stints, flat out every lap.

Who has which tyres

The tyres left after qualifying split the grid into clear groups. Antonelli, Norris, Piastri, Russell and Hadjar all have the same set: one new Medium, two new Hards and no new Softs. That is exactly what Pirelli's fastest plan needs. Verstappen is the odd one out at the front: one new Soft, one new Medium and only one new Hard.

Ferrari have split their two cars. Hamilton has a new Soft, a used Medium and two new Hards, so both of Pirelli's top plans are open to him from P2. Leclerc has two new Softs, the most in the top ten, but only one Hard, which points him toward a Soft-heavy race or even three stops. Further back, Hülkenberg (P15) has three new Softs, the most on the grid, while the back four (Bottas, Pérez, Colapinto and Lindblad) are the only drivers with two new Mediums.

The key battle: Laps 11 to 18

This is where pole either holds or doesn't. Verstappen's likely first stop falls between Laps 11 and 17, and Antonelli's fastest plan has him stopping between Laps 12 and 18, so the two windows sit almost on top of each other. With tyres losing around two to three tenths a lap, the undercut is the strongest weapon, and fresh rubber quickly pays back the time lost in the pit lane.

The catch for Red Bull comes after that stop. If Verstappen uses his only new Hard to cover an early Antonelli stop, his final stint has to be on a Medium or a Soft, while Mercedes still have a second Hard to answer with. Hamilton, starting alongside him, can go either way.

Wildcards: Safety Car and rain

A Safety Car during the first pit window would reward whoever hasn't stopped yet. Historically, about one race in five at Sepang had one, although that data is nine years old. Then there's the weather: forecasts give around a 40% chance of rain, at a track known for heavy afternoon storms, and no team has run in the wet yet in 2026.

Watch the race live

Follow every pit stop with our F1 live watchalong with live timing and commentary. Results from every session are in our Bahrain GP 2026 weekend guide, and the title picture is in F1 2026 Title Maths.

Strategies and pit stop loss: Pirelli. Tyre sets per driver: Coffee Corner Motorsport.