Why F1 should extend partnership with Pirelli beyond 2024

Pirelli's contract expires at the end of 2024. The Italian tyre manufacturer would like to continue in F1 but has faced competition from Bridgestone. In an exclusive interview with GPblog, Mario Isola explains why he thinks Formula 1 should choose his brand.

Pirelli as F1's tyre supplier

Pirelli have been Formula 1's tyre supplier since 2011. The aim was to create tyres that wear more so that races would be more exciting. Over the years, Pirelli have managed to achieve this and have continuously adapted to the needs of the sport. But the brand must face another battle as the 2025 F1 season nears, with Bridgestone also signing up as a tyre supplier.

Given F1's plan to become more sustainable, a tyre war between the two manufacturers is not needed, and if it came to that, Pirelli would renounce the project. Pirelli believes a tyre war adds nothing to their brand, Isola previously revealed. So it will be Bridgestone or Pirelli. Isola explains why he thinks F1 should continue with Pirelli.

"I believe that in the last 12 years, we have been a good partner for Formula 1. Not just a tyre supplier, we always try to supply a tyre in line with their expectation. We had many changes during this period, not just talking about the big changes, the 18 inches tyres, the wider tyres in 2017 or the new power unit in 2014, along with high degradation tyres at the beginning," Isola said in a conversation with GPblog.

"These were the big changes, but every year, we had to adapt or upgrade our construction. Not just to try to cope with the increased performance of the cars but also to achieve the targets defined by Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams and the drivers in order to have a better show, to have a better sport, to encourage different strategies, to have more action on the track. So there are many elements and many targets that they gave us, and we always try to do our best, and I believe that in many seasons, we had a good Formula 1 product.

"Last year, it was very nice, in 2021 was fantastic. We were unique in 2012. I remember that they were fighting until the last race, Alonso with Sebastian [Vettel]. We gave our contribution to have a better show."

Thinking along with F1

Besides the constantly changing tyre, Isola also believes that Pirelli have started to do more and more for the teams on a technical level. Several engineers work with the teams to provide more information, and teams are asking for more data, which they are getting. In addition, testing at the factory has also improved, the factory itself has been addressed, and lots of investment has been made in F1.

Having a new factory should ensure that Pirelli can continue to produce tyres for F1 in the future, but Pirelli do more than just supply tyres. "On the marketing side, we have been part of many projects, or I would say all the projects with Formula 1 from Fan Festival and fan zone at the beginning. Then, we created with them the hot laps. That is a fantastic platform where our customers and customers from the OEM have the possibility to test the real performance of a road car with the road tyres on a real circuit with a professional driver, with performances that they cannot imagine. They are shocked after the hot lap."

In addition, Pirelli are also involved in the F1 Exhibition and supply tyres to the F1 Academy. "We try to contribute with our ideas. We are working with the FIA in order to find a new regulation to reduce the number of tyres used for sustainability. This activity on the blankets ban is also in the direction to make the sport more sustainable."

F1 and the FIA will decide who will be the tyre supplier after 2024. Pirelli intend to extend the partnership, which will reach 14 years at the end of 2024. "I believe that the decision shouldn't be taken just on economical (financial) offers, but also considering all the elements," said Isola, giving one last piece of advice to policymakers. It will be known later this year whether Pirelli will be allowed to stay on longer or whether Bridgestone will return to F1 after their last appearance in 2010.