Bridgestone versus Pirelli – FIA has opened the tender for the official F1 tyre provide contract from 2025 to 2027, with the choice to increase it till 2028.
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At the start of 2023, FIA opened the tender for the official F1 tyre provide contract from 2025 to 2027 as a result of the present contract will expire on the finish of 2024. Everybody is aware of that Pirelli has been the official F1 tyre provider since 2011 and had already received a bid to resume this contract some years in the past, defeating the South Korean model Hankook. The Pandemic compelled FIA and F1 to postpone new technical guidelines, and the present beneficial contract for tyres has been prolonged till 2024 from the earlier expiration in 2023. Also, for this bid, Pirelli should battle with one other provider, which has already been an official provider for F1, the Japanese Bridgestone.
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Bridgestone’s period in F1 began in 1997 as an F1 provider in co-sharing with American Goodyear. In 1998 Bridgestone received the primary F1 title due to McLaren, and in 1999 (for 2 seasons), they have been the unique tyre provider to F1. This rule change began the Ferrari period, and Michael Schumacher received 5 consecutive world championships. In 2001 Bridgestone was once more in co-sharing with one other provider, this time Michelin, and this era lasted till 2006 as a result of of official Michelin’s retirement from F1. Then, Bridgestone equipped F1 from 2007 till the 2010 season. During the 2010 season, Pirelli received the official tender to return again to F1. Bridgestone left Formula 1 however not the motorsport world; the truth is, Bridgestone’s related model Firestone is IndyCar’s official provider. After 13 years, Bridgestone is speaking a couple of possible comeback to Formula 1.
The Head of Motorsports Planning of the Japanese manufacturing facility, Eiichi Suzuki, declared, “We are always thinking about what and how we can best deliver our motorsport activities in global categories, including F1. Of course, we are researching these topics.”
The manufacturing facility hasn’t formally confirmed this indiscretion but, however a spokesman said some days in the past: “Bridgestone has a 60-year heritage in motorsports, and we are a partner in many motorsport events. We will continue to advance and refine our technologies through top-level races around the globe that require top-level tyre performance. F1 is considered as one of the various options”. Let’s see if Pirelli will proceed, or we’ll see Bridgestone again in F1.
