In the near future, Formula 1 will stick with a single tyre supplier – To change that, it first needs ways to cut costs
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says a return to the tyre war with more than one supplier is not on the sport’s future agenda. The Italian cites cost reasons for this in the first instance.
“I think this point was agreed with the FIA to make sure that we are able to control the costs for the ecosystem of Formula One,” Domenicali said of the sole supplier arrangement.
This Tuesday, the FIA and Formula One had confirmed they would extend the supplier contract with Pirelli until 2027. Bridgestone had also been a contender but failed.
The last time there was a tyre competition in Formula 1 was from 2001 to 2006, when Michelin and Bridgestone equipped the teams. Bridgestone was then the sole supplier for four seasons from 2007 before Pirelli took over in 2011, returning to the sport after two decades of absence.
Cost control and a level playing field
Formula 1 has opted for a single supplier because of costs and the extra testing that a tyre war would entail. It also wants to create a level playing field on this point.
Theoretically, Formula 1 could take a different approach after Pirelli’s recently extended contract is concluded, provided there are several interested parties. But Domenicali waves it off because of the costs involved.
“That was the main reason we moved away from tyre competition, where we did a lot of testing, a lot of driving and a lot of research, which was really beneficial. But the cost was really huge,” he explains.
“That was the reason why we turned away from that direction and created the new situation. It is too early to think that this could be a possibility for the future. It is not on the agenda. “
Pirelli: “Happy to compete with other suppliers “
However, this does not mean that they are completely closed to the idea: “It is a relevant point, because if in the future you are able to control costs with different mechanisms, why not? But so far it’s not on the agenda of discussion with the FIA and the teams.”
Pirelli is expected to exit Formula 1 when its current contract expires, although the vice-president welcomes competition on the track.
“I think it is important to underline that Pirelli participates in motorsport as part of more than 300 championships around the world,” said Marco Tronchetti Provera. “In most of them there are also other suppliers and we are happy to compete with other suppliers. So it has never been a problem for us.”
“For us it has always been an opportunity to compete with others because we supply tyres for the prestige vehicles, the premium vehicles. We are very happy because it is an opportunity to prove our technology. “