Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says there are "several million reasons" for Pirelli to remain F1's tyre supplier beyond 2024, a view shared by several of the Briton's colleagues.
The FIA's tender process regarding a three-year tyre supply contract with F1 is currently underway. The governing body has reviewed the technical bids from Pirelli and Bridgestone, paving the way for the companies' all-important commercial discussions with F1.
Pirelli has been the sport's single supplier of choice since 2011. While its relationship with F1's teams and drivers has been rocky at times, Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola is confident that the company will remain F1's preferred partner, arguing that it has always responded proactively to the various mandates imposed by the sport and the FIA, while it has also played a significant part in Formula 1's promotion and marketing.
"No news compared to the last time we spoke," Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola told the media at Monza last weekend.
"We presented our offer. Obviously, the tender is quite complicated and there are a lot of details that must be discussed with F1 and with the FIA, with the teams.
"It is not only for Formula 1, but also for the support series, like Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy. So it’s quite a complex package. And I hope and I’m still positive for that."
With just 16 months to prepare for a new supply contract with F1, many believe that entrusting a new supply deal to a new supplier – meaning Bridgestone – in such a short time frame would be a massive challenge for the Japanese company.
"Pirelli is a great company and I’m sure in their tender that they’ve offered generous terms to the promoter, to the teams," commented Horner.
"And you know, we’d love to… There’s many, many millions of reasons that we would love to continue with Pirelli," added the Red Bull team boss, referring tongue-in-cheek to the financial benefits of the tyre supply contract.
"So, you know, they’re a great tyre company, they’ve given us a great service and hopefully there’s, as I say, several million reasons that that will continue."
"It’s not just about the millions of reasons," added Ferrari's Fred Vasseur.
"More seriously, and technically, I think that it’s true that it’s quite challenging. Also, because we are speaking about one type of tyre for 2025 and probably another one for 2026.
"It means that you will have to develop two different tyres or construction or perhaps dimensions in the next two or three years. And as Mario said before, you have also doing the junior series and so it means that it’s a very, very large panel.
"I don’t know if it’s too late, it’s not my job, but it’s a challenge."
McLaren F1 boss Andrea Stella echoed Vasseur's view regarding the compressed time frame that Bridgestone would face.
"Well, I agree on the million reasons obviously," said the Italian.
"And in terms of timing, I would say that for us as teams it’s not a problem but seen from a tyre manufacturer point of view, it looks like it’s getting tight so hopefully we’ll see the decision soon."
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
