Formula 1 heads to Singapore for the final Sprint weekend of the 2026 season, with Pirelli expecting tyre strategy to be a key factor around the demanding Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The Italian tyre manufacturer will bring the same compound selection used 12 months ago, with the C3 Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft forming the three available options.

At 4.940 kilometres and featuring 19 corners, Marina Bay remains one of the toughest circuits on the calendar. The narrow street track leaves little margin for error, while its repeated braking and traction zones place considerable demands on the rear tyres.

Changes to the final sector introduced in 2023 have made the lap faster, adding several high-speed sections to a circuit already characterised by limited overtaking opportunities.

Despite the tropical conditions, Pirelli does not expect excessive thermal degradation. Track temperatures during the night race should remain between 30 and 35°C, while tyre wear and graining are also unlikely to become decisive factors.

That opens the door to a conventional one-stop strategy, with the Hard and Medium compounds expected to remain important. However, Pirelli believes the C5 Soft could play a bigger role than in previous years.

The latest-generation cars have demonstrated an improved ability to extract performance from softer compounds, while the evolving Marina Bay surface could increase their competitiveness as grip builds throughout the weekend.

The Sprint format may further encourage teams to exploit the Soft tyre, potentially providing an important advantage in Saturday’s shortened race.

Last year, almost the entire field completed a one-stop strategy, although rain ruled out the Hard compound at the start.

With track conditions capable of changing rapidly and limited overtaking opportunities, qualifying and tyre management could once again prove decisive under the Singapore lights.