Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali says the sport never considered splitting its 2025-27 tyre supply contract between two manufacturers, but such a scenario could materialize in the future if cost reductions are achieved.
The FIA and F1 announced this week that Pirelli will remain Grand Prix racing’s exclusive tyre supplier until the end of 2027.
The Italian company which has partnered with F1 since 2011 defeated its only competitor, Bridgestone, in the tender process which included stringent technical, financial and sustainability requirements.
Domenicali elaborated on the reasons why F1 opted to extend its collaboration with Pirelli.
“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,” the Italian explained.
“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.”
In the past, tyre wars often dominated F1, with Goodyear and Michelin famously fighting each other in the 80s amid escalating performances and costs.
F1 eventually shifted away from an open policy regarding suppliers precisely to mitigate rising costs but also to level the playing field among teams who might have a closer collaboration with a specific tyre partner.
Could F1 consider multiple tyre suppliers in the sport at some point in the future?
“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.”
Pirelli’s latest covenant with F1 only covers a period of three years, from 2025 to 2027. However, its deal includes an option for the FIA and F1 to extend the partnership into 2028.
Queried on the criteria that would lead to an extension of Pirelli’s supply contract, Domenicali said: “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.”
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