Tyre blanket

A member of the Red Bull Racing team works on tyres with blankets in the Paddock

Tyre blankets are the electric warming wraps used to pre-heat Formula 1 tyres before they are fitted to the car. They bring the compound close to its working temperature so the tyre delivers peak grip on its very first flying lap, and their use is one of the most tightly regulated areas of F1 tyre technology. From 2024 the FIA has been tightening the rules ahead of a possible full ban that has repeatedly slipped from the calendar.

What are tyre blankets in F1?

Tyre blankets are electrically heated fabric wraps that surround an F1 tyre before it is fitted to the car. They warm the tread and inner carcass to a controlled temperature so the compound is inside its working window when the tyre reaches the track. Without blankets, the tyre would take multiple laps to come up to temperature, during which grip and lap-time would be sharply reduced.

Current tyre blanket rules

Under the 2024 regulations, Pirelli specifies a set of blanket temperatures for each event and the FIA polices them via sensor-checked warming units in the pit lane. Fronts and rears are typically warmed to different setpoints, and the blanket time before fitting is capped. The current rules cut blanket setpoints below where teams would want them, so drivers have to work harder to bring the tyre into its ideal window on the out-lap.

Why a full ban has been proposed

The FIA has repeatedly discussed banning tyre blankets entirely on cost, sustainability and racing-quality grounds. The argument is that eliminating pre-heating would require compounds that work over a wider temperature range, which would improve racing under changing weather and reduce reliance on electrical warming equipment. Multiple attempts to ban blankets have been postponed after driver and Pirelli feedback about safety in the transition period.

Frequently asked questions about tyre blankets

What are tyre blankets in F1?

Tyre blankets are electric warming wraps used to pre-heat F1 tyres before they are fitted to the car. They bring the compound into its working temperature range.

Are tyre blankets still legal in F1?

Yes. They remain legal under current regulations, though the FIA has been reducing blanket temperatures year by year.

Why has the FIA discussed banning tyre blankets?

On cost, sustainability and racing-quality grounds. The proposed transition to compounds that work without pre-heating has been postponed several times.

How hot are current tyre blankets?

Under the 2024 rules, blanket temperatures are lower than teams would like, requiring drivers to work harder on out-laps to reach the ideal working window.

What happens if a tyre is fitted without a blanket?

It takes several laps to come up to temperature, during which grip is significantly reduced and the risk of graining rises sharply.