Pirelli are the sole tyre suppliers in F1 at the moment and their deal runs out until 2019. They had taken over from Bridgestone in 2011 and have arguably done in a decent job in all those years.
However, with the 2019 deadline coming closer, Pirelli have identified two major conditions that will need to be satisfied in order for them to stay on as a tyre supplier for F1.
The new contract will need to make a lot of ‘business sense’ to Pirelli for them to go ahead with it, as they only want to get into contracts that are commercially viable for them.
The second condition is about how Pirelli want the sport of F1 to provide them with a technological challenge at every stage and not just turn into a commercial event as confirmed by the Pirelli CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera.
“If the challenge continues to be technological, giving the teams and drivers what they want, then we are here to do it,” Provera said.
“If it becomes a commercial event, we will withdraw. The important thing is that the drivers are more and more at the centre.
“I believe the tyres work when the drivers are happy, and the public is happy when the drivers are able to have a challenge,” Provera added
Provera emphasised on the fact that Pirelli’s tyres this year have been able to fuel a lot of competition on the circuit.
The overtaking issues that cars are facing has to more to do with the circuits than the tyre.
“The competition this year is generally more lively, and that is good news,” Provera said.
“But it is clear that with the increase in the performance of the cars, both with aerodynamics and the tyre, overtaking at narrow circuits has become practically impossible.” he added.
