Carlos Sainz Jnr, Ferrari, Pirelli tyre test, Circuit de Catalunya, 2023

Teams wary of potential problems if Bridgestone replaces Pirelli as tyre supplier

2023 Austrian Grand Prix

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Formula 1 teams have raised concerns over how the series could adjust to a change of tyre supplier, as Pirelli is believed to face competition from a rival.

The FIA announced in March it had invited manufacturers to apply for the contract to supply tyres for the championship from 2025 to 2027. Pirelli has been F1’s exclusive supplier since 2011.

However its predecessor in the role, Bridgestone, is also believed to be considering an application. It provided tyres to teams from 1997 until 2010. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it would be happy to use tyres provided by either company in principle.

“We’ve worked with both companies and won races and championship with both, they’re both quality companies,” he said. “So Formula 1 is in a fortunate position if both are showing keen interest.

“We have absolutely no issue with Pirelli at the moment, Bridgestone is a quality brand, a quality manufacturer.”

However he pointed out that when Pirelli arrived in F1 there was disagreement over how their tyres would be tested, as any team which conducted all or the majority of the running could gain a significant advantage.

“The only complexity, and the one that perhaps the teams would squabble over, is when they come to needing to sign off their product and then suddenly a test car has to be produced,” said Horner. “Who produces the test car?

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“Who runs the test car? Who drives the test car and who gets that knowledge? And how do you do that in an impartial way?

“It was always a slightly sore subject historically. So that would be one key thing to address.”

AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost had first-hand experience of Bridgestone’s arrival in F1 in 1997. Prior to their arrival he worked with Ralf Schumacher, who drove for the Formula Nippon (now Super Formula) Team Le Mans, who assisted Bridgestone’s development of F1 tyres.

He expects the Japanese manufacturer will therefore prepare as thoroughly as possible if it does choose to enter.

“Bridgestone is a very well-known company, has also a lot of experience in Formula 1 although they were out the last years,” said Tost. “I’m convinced that Bridgestone is aware of what it means to come into Formula 1.

“I would not be surprised if they wouldn’t have made any tests already in Japan because when they came back 10 or 15 years ago, the team where I was working, the Le Mans team, was involved in the tyre development. Ralf Schumacher did the tyre test in those times and this was two years ahead before they came into Formula 1.”

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However if Bridgestone have not already begun development work they will face a challenge to be ready in time for 2025, said Tost.

“If they haven’t started then I think it’s quite late because to develop tyres for the current Formula 1 is a huge challenge,” he said. “It’s not so easy to find the correct way to have also safe tyres.

“So I think for Formula 1 and for Formula 1 management, it’s a very good possibility to negotiate with Pirelli and then to find a solution who is providing Formula 1 with better material and who is paying more money.”

Bridgestone previously entered F1 as a competitor to rival Goodyear, at a time when multiple tyre suppliers were allowed in the sport. Following Goodyear’s departure at the end of 1998, Bridgestone faced another rival in the shape of Michelin from 2001 to 2006. Michelin departed ahead of F1’s decision to impose a single tyre supplier.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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5 comments on “Teams wary of potential problems if Bridgestone replaces Pirelli as tyre supplier”

  1. Most teams have worked with Bridgestone when they supplied Formula 1, initially in competition with Goodyear, then Michelin, and as a sole supplier.

    And the only time Bridgestone didn’t manage to conquer a challenge in all that time was when they were explicitly targetted by the FIA with a rules change to break Ferrari’s run of Championships.

    Change is scary. They’ll be fine.

  2. “Who produces the test car? Who runs the test car? Who drives the test car and who gets that knowledge? And how do you do that in an impartial way?”

    Don’t let any of the current F1 teams in on it. It’s really that simple.
    There are several capable motorsports and automotive engineering companies about these days who could produce a completely independent test car that meets and exceeds the F1 technical regulations in every way. It’s really not that difficult to do, and wouldn’t cost a lot (by F1 standards) either.

    “So I think for Formula 1 and for Formula 1 management, it’s a very good possibility to negotiate with Pirelli and then to find a solution who is providing Formula 1 with better material and who is paying more money.”

    Ultimately, this is the only sentence here that matters.
    The teams really don’t care which brand of tyres is on their car – only that they receive the most amount of money possible from the supplier through F1’s commercial payments.
    This is entirely a business decision and not at all a sporting one.

  3. While Horner’s concerns are valid, it is not really difficult to solve.

    Have an extra 2 days at Abu Dhabi after the season finale and let all 20 cars pound laps after laps till their heart’s content. Teams will face minimal extra cost and with no concerns of engine or other parts, will fully focus on tyre feedback and tyre feedback alone.

    You want to test rain tyres? Spray half of Abu Dhabi track (I believe Abu Dhabi has a short layout too if one uses the back straight garages) with water and run in the night (so that water doesn’t evaporate).

  4. Once again there’s a Schumacher available to do the tyre testing…

  5. Horner stands for nothing and this is well known within the F1 circle. If he is showing concerns about Bridgestone, then this suggests that he may have something to lose or currently holds an advantage over his rivals in terms of understanding the Pirelli tires. The new ground effects Red Bulls have a shared characteristic straightaway out of the box which is being easier on the tyres and effectively maintaining them within the optimal operating range.

    The current Pirelli tires are widely regarded as one of the most problematic tyres across all motorsport categories. Unlike other motorsport series where competitors have more flexibility with tyres, F1 imposes strict rules for all participants to adhere to Pirelli’s specifications.

    However, despite these guidelines acting as a sort of user guide regarding tire pressures, camber angle, tire inversion between sessions… There have been numerous failures throughout the years, with Pirelli failing to take full responsibility.
    While some argue that Pirelli was asked to produce high degradation tires, what about the wet weather tyres. Who asked them to produce such subpar rubber ?

    F1 has presented a significant challenge to handle for Pirelli, while other manufacturers like Bridgestone and Michelin have consistently competed at the forefront of motorsport. Although not flawless, they have not demonstrated the same consistent failures season after season as Pirelli has.

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