Pirelli tyres. 20.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 12, Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest, Hungary, Preparation Day.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has downplayed the prospect of a tyre war being under consideration to return to the sport at a later date.
F1 previously regulated two separate tyre suppliers between 2001-2006 when Bridgestone and Michelin were prominent fixtures.
However, Michelin’s withdrawal at the end of that period witnessed Bridgestone assume responsibility for supplying every team until the Japanese manufacturer also exited after 2010.
Pirelli has been F1’s sole tyre supplier since 2011 – and it was confirmed on Tuesday that the Italian company had fended off competition from Bridgestone to pen a three-year extension.
Asked why Pirelli’s bid was chosen over Bridgestone, Domenicali said: “As always, someone has to make a choice, and I think all the parameters are related of course to the technical side which is FIA and absolutely relevant, and on the other side we have the duty to work on the commercial part of it.
“I have to thank Bridgestone because they were at the start of the process and were showing that F1 is a platform where also other manufacturers have the possibility to come in and join.
“When it comes to a decision, we felt that it was the right thing to progress. There are a lot [of] technical challenges in the future, there are also a lot of commercial opportunities that we believe the choice that we have taken is the best for Formula 1.”
Stefano Domenicali (ITA) Formula One President and CEO. 23.09.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Qualifying Day.
F1 primarily progressed away from a tyre war to avoid escalating costs and to counteract the advantage that can be provided by certain teams working closer with a supplier.
But with each contract cycle only spanning three years, the possibility for two suppliers to coexist could materialise providing Bridgestone or another company registers a formal interest.
However, Domenicali insists that such a prospect would only be entertained if it was proven that costs could be reduced.
“I think that as you know that point was tackled together with the FIA to make sure that we were able to control the cost of the ecosystem of Formula 1,” Domenicali explained.
“That was the main reason when we moved from the tyre competition where we had a lot of testing, a lot of mileage, and a lot of research that was really beneficial, but the cost was really massive, that was the reason we moved from that direction to the new situation.
“It is too premature to consider that this could be a possibility for the future but in terms of the actual situation where the cost control is very relevant I would say we haven’t decided for sure but it is not yet on the agenda to see if this could be a possibility in the future.
“But it is a point of relevancy because in the future if we are able to control the different mechanisms of the cost, why not? But so far it is not on the agenda or discussions together with the FIA or teams.”
Meanwhile, Pirelli Executive Vice-President Marco Tronchetti Provera asserts that the company would be prepared to compete against an alternative supplier.
“From my side, I think it is important to underline that Pirelli is part of more than 300 championships around the world in motorsport business,” he highlighted.
“In most of them there are also other suppliers and we are happy to compete with other suppliers. It has been never an issue for us, for us it has been always an opportunity, competing with other as we do, supplying tyres for the prestigious cars, premium cars, we are very happy as it’s an opportunity to prove our technology.”
Although the new agreement will only cover the period between 2025-27, Pirelli has already cemented an option to continue in F1 in 2028.
Pressed on what the terms will be to activate that, Domenicali replied: “I think that now we have closed this point we are going to discuss together with the FIA straight away how to address the point that you said, because of course it’s important and relevant for all of the stakeholders to close this point.
“So that is the next point that we are going to tackle in the next couple of months.”
Keyword: Domenicali downplays prospect of future F1 tyre war return