Pirelli has an option to extend its contract to 2028, but what happens after that remains to be seen
https://www.carscoops.com/author/sam-d-smith/
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by Sam D. Smith
4 hours ago
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Pirelli will continue to be the official tire supplier of Formula 1, with a new deal inked that will see the Italian manufacturer in the sport until the end of 2027, with a further one-year extension possible.
The company has been the sport’s sole tire provider since it entered in 2011, replacing Bridgestone. There were rumors that the latter company had been vowing to make a comeback to the pinnacle of motorsport, but for now at least, that door is firmly shut.
The announcement was made off the back of a controversial Qatar Grand Prix, which saw drivers struggle with extreme temperatures over the course of the 57-lap race. In addition to the exhaustion, which dominated the headlines, the weekend started out with Pirelli issuing a warning to teams over tire life around the newly resurfaced Losail circuit — the aggressive kerbing in particular. To counter these safety fears, the race was run with strict tire life limits, with a maximum of 18 laps allowed for each set of rubbers.
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Related: Pirelli Motorsport Boss Reveals F1’s Most Demanding Challenges
By the end of its latest contract, Pirelli will have been in the sport for 18 years. The entry of the tire supplier in 2011 turned the F1 world on its head, with a new concept of high-degradation tires, at the request of the sport’s bosses. The move, while being made to encourage more pit stops, hasn’t been the most popular with drivers, who often have to save tires during a race, rather than pushing flat-out.
In 2017, Pirelli introduced wider tires for the season’s new regulations. And, in 2022, the company made the switch from 13-inch diameter rims to 18-inch wheels. A new development to the agreement will see Pirelli’s tires become Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified from 2024. FSC certification allows each element of the materials used in tire production can be fully traced to ensure sustainable production is upheld.
The agreement’s wording, with the deal extended to 2027 with a further one-year option, has led to some speculating that the F1 world will be in store for a new tire supplier come 2029. Whether that means more tire saving remains to be seen. Would you like to see a new face in the sport’s tire game? Or perhaps even a return to the tire wars?
