Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says a return to the tire war with more than one supplier is not on the sport’s future agenda. The Italian primarily cites cost reasons for this.
“I think this point has been agreed with the FIA to ensure that we are able to control the costs for the Formula 1 ecosystem,” Domenicali says of the sole supplier arrangement.
This Tuesday, the FIA and Formula 1 confirmed that they would extend the supplier contract with Pirelli until 2027. Bridgestone was also an applicant, but failed.
There was last tire competition in Formula 1 from 2001 to 2006, when Michelin and Bridgestone equipped the teams. Bridgestone was the sole supplier for four seasons from 2007 before Pirelli took over in 2011 and returned to the sport after two decades of absence.
No new tire war in Formula 1: a question of costs
Formula 1 chose a single supplier for cost reasons and because of the additional testing effort that a tire war would entail. We also want to create a level playing field on this point.
In theory, Formula 1 could take a different approach following the conclusion of Pirelli’s recently extended contract, assuming there are multiple interested parties. But Domenicali waves away the costs involved.
“That was the main reason we moved away from tire competition, where we did a lot of testing, a lot of driving and a lot of research, which was really beneficial. But the costs were really huge,” he explains.
“That was the reason why we turned away from this direction and created the new situation. It is still too early to think that this could be a possibility for the future. It is not on the agenda.”
Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli: “Happy to compete with others”
But that doesn’t mean that you completely close your mind to the idea: “It’s a relevant point, because if you’re able to use various mechanisms to control costs in the future, why not? But so far that’s not on the agenda the 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 emphasize that Pirelli participates in motorsport as part of more than 300 championships around the world,” says Marco Tronchetti Provera. “Most of them have other providers as well and we’re happy to compete with other providers. So it’s never been a problem for us.”
“For us it has always been an opportunity to compete because we supply tires for the prestige vehicles, the premium vehicles. We are very happy because it is an opportunity to prove our technology.”