Pirelli, FIA against future tyre competition

Pirelli head Mario Isola believes it’s unlikely Formula 1 will reintroduce tyre competition and instead stick with a sole supplier as it prepares for the tender process this year.

The Italian tyre manufacturer became F1’s official tyre supplier at the start of the 2011 season and its existing deal expires at the end of 2019. F1 is expected to open its tyre tender process later this year to begin its search for potential suppliers from beyond 2019 – which is expected to be a three-year offer that would include the first year of the predicted regulation changes in 2021 – with Pirelli determined to keep its place in the sport.

Having built a positive relationship with new F1 owners Liberty Media over the past 12 months, Isola has confirmed Pirelli’s plans and doesn’t expect F1 to seek a return to tyre manufacturer competition. The 2006 season marked the last time two tyre manufacturers directly competed in F1 when Michelin and Bridgestone were part of the sport and shared nine race wins each during the campaign.

“I believe that we’ll have a tender process this year because the usual plan is to have a tender process the year before [the final year of the existing deal],” Isola told Crash.net. “We are interested to continue and we’ll have a discussion with the FIA and F1 as well as the F1 Commission.

“I believe the intention, although it is not our decision, by the FIA and F1 that it will continue with a sole supplier.

“We are interested to continue in F1 because it is a good platform and it is growing with a lot of new ideas so we’re happy to be part of the family and happy to be a good technical partner for Formula 1.”

Pirelli took part in the first F1 season in 1950 and is the second most successful tyre manufacturer in the sport’s history with 181 wins – albeit 137 of those victories coming as a sole supplier. Goodyear currently tops the all-time list with 368 race wins while 113 of those victories came as a sole supplier.