FIA extends Pirelli as F1 tire supplier through 2027

PARIS—The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has extended Pirelli Tyre's status as the designated race tire supplier to the FIA's Formula 1, 2 and 3 open-wheel racing series for three more years, through 2027.

The FIA's decision, which concludes a search process announced in March, includes an option for one additional season past 2027, according to Pirelli, which has been the series' sole race tire supplier since 2011.

The FIA did not disclose whether other tire makers submitted bids for the contract. Various motorsports media, however, reported that Bridgestone Corp.—which was a Formula 1 tire supplier for the 1997 through 2010 seasons—had submitted a competing bid.

Financial terms of the agreement, which was ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, were not disclosed. Pirelli only recently declined to continue as the sole designated tire supplier to the FIA's World Rally Championship, saying it had "achieved the targets set three years ago at the start of the current contact."

In a prepared statement, Marco Tronchetti Provera, executive vice-president, said: "Innovation and technology are locked into Pirelli's DNA, and Formula 1 constitutes the ultimate open-air laboratory to not only try out and test new technical solutions, but also to accelerate fresh research, development and production processes in making tires."

Pirelli also noted that starting in 2024, it will ensure that all tires used in F1 races will be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, indicating that all forest-based materials used in the production of the race tires come from suppliers that follow business practices that preserve biological diversity and bring benefits to the lives of local communities and workers, while fostering economic sustainability.

"Our commitment to sustainability is equally strong," Tronchetti Provera said, "as proved by the FSC certification that will be introduced to our F1 tires from next year. Being at the forefront of motorsport's pinnacle until at least 2027 adds another important value dimension to our company."

Another element of Pirelli's sustainability goals is its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a Formula 1 tire.

Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, lauded Pirelli for being an "invaluable partner" over the past dozen years and for the company's "commitment to quality, innovation and deep knowledge" of the sport, attributes that will be vital as F1 approaches new technical regulations for the 2026 season that will increase the reliance on electrical power and raise available horsepower.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem thanked Pirelli for its "ongoing support of motor sport not only in Formula 1, but in many other championships and categories at every level," and expressed confidence that Pirelli will "continue … to take further strides both in terms of performance and sustainability" in the coming years.

During its time so far as the designated F1, 2 and 3 tire supplier, Pirelli has undertaken a series of technical challenges to meet the FIA's changing rulebook, including:

• developing high-degradation tires in a bid to offer teams more options for race strategy;
• adopting tire design to hybrid power units introduced in 2014;
• introduction of wider 13-inch rim-diameter tires in 2017; and
• introduction of 18-inch rim diameter tires in 2022.

Separately, Pirelli Tyre and SRO Motorsports Group have agreed in principle to extend a decade-old tire supply agreement for SRO's various GT-based racing series for five more years.

The contract calls for Pirelli to continue developing and supplying tires for a range of racing series for production-based GT cars, including:

• the Fanatec GT2 European Series, which will become the "Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli" from 2024 onwards;
• all standalone GT4-based series sanctioned/licensed by SRO; and
• various series for GT3-based vehicles.

All three categories use the same P Zero DHG high-performance tire that was introduced ahead of the 2022 season, Pirelli said, noting that the GT3 category technical specifications will change ahead of the 2025 season.

Among specific championships covered by this agreement are the Intercontinental GT Challenge and Fanatec GT World Challenge Powered by AWS series in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, as well as the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

SRO Motorsports Group CEO Stéphane Ratel, said: "Success in motor racing requires the very best partners and, in Pirelli, we have exactly that. For the past decade they have provided a world-class product to our teams, while also adding considerable commercial and technical support to our series and one-off events around the globe."

Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola added; "It is a source of great satisfaction for us to continue to provide such exciting and increasingly popular championships. In these years of collaboration with SRO, we have supported the evolution of cars and race formats around the world, and we will reinforce this commitment over the next five years."