Hankook to replace Pirelli in 2020?

Pirelli tyres have been criticised by drivers and fans for being a little too durable, thus eliminating the 2 or 3 pit stop races from F1 and thus making the sport a bit too predictable.

Pirelli’s deal with F1 comes to an end in 2019 and Pirelli has revealed that it will continue with F1 only if presents a technological challenge to their team and engineers.

For F1, they have to make a more fundamental decision, keeping in mind the future of the sport. Tyres play a massive role in driver and team strategy and thus any decision that F1 take will have large scale implications on how F1 is shaped for the next few years.

According to reports in the Auto Motor und Sport, Hankook is considering an entry into F1 and could replace Pirelli.

Now, the South Korean tyre manufacturer has been interested in F1 for a long time, having contacted Bernie in 2013 and also having held quite a few discussions with him regarding their entry into the sport.

The talks however did not go through and Pirelli continued to be F1’s tyre supplier.

But with Pirelli’s deal coming to an end and Hankook already supplying tyres in DTM and Formula 3, the rumour mill according to Auto Motor und Sport suggests that Hankoook could be plotting a move into F1.

They will of course have to weigh in the commercial feasibility of it before taking the decision of even initiating talks with F1.

The German outlet has also claimed that F1 authorities are currently on the look out for sole tyre providers and have floated an ‘expression of interest’ for the same.

However, a decision will taken in September, the German outlet claimed.