F1 Rumour: Formula One To Extend Pirelli Contract Until 2027

Pirelli reigns champion in a Bridgestone vs Pirelli battle.

Formula 1 will most probably continue to use Pirelli tires for the 2024 season and even beyond that after assessing technical criteria, production capacity, and logistics for the coming years. 

According to a report from Motorsport-Magazin.com, Bridgestone was the only contender against Pirelli in the tender and both received a positive response from the FIA. However, Bridgestone wanted to be the sole supplier of tires. 

Moving forward, the World Automobile Association assessed whether the suppliers would be able to maintain consistency in the technical criteria, as well as sustainability in terms of logistics and production. 

Formula 1's commercial rights holder Liberty Media was entrusted with taking the final call between Bridgestone and Pirelli. Insider information reveals that Bridgestone made a more lucrative offer. Eventually, Formula 1 decided in favor of Pirelli. 

The Italian tire manufacturer has been with the sport since 2011- in good and bad times. This could have been one of the cards that went in their favor. The company also continued its supply of tires at a time in the past where Formula 1 teams were riddled with financial difficulties. 

Bridgestone on the other hand has been a sole tire supplier too from 2007 to 2011. However, Liberty Media took the final call in Pirelli's favor. One primary reason why the deal with Pirelli is a safe bet for Formula 1 is the change from 13-inch tires to 18-inch tires in 2022 that will remain in use at least until 2025. 

This could've gone against Bridgestone financially in case they were onboarded in 2024 because they would have to develop new tires for a year before an entirely new product came up in 2026. What the changes are for cars post-2025 is uncertain as of now. 

Pirelli has a finished product with them currently. On Friday, the Formula 1 Commission will take a call on the elimination of electric blankets for 2024 at Spa. If the vote against the ban on electric blankets fails, Pirelli always has the option of going back to the 2023 product, a move that would've been difficult for a potential newcomer like Bridgestone who would've had to through all the R&D testing on the tires that Pirelli has in line until the end of this year. 

Pirelli took a break from Formula 1 from 1959 to 1980 and from 1992 to 2010. However, they still remain the tire manufacturers with the second-highest Grand Prix appearances at 450 races, right below Goodyear with the highest count of 494 races!