So far, the Milan-based company has not been just a sole supplier but a partner of Formula 1, contributing to the growth of the sport with a focus not only on delivering safe, equal tires for everyone but also on defining the spectacle. Certain investments, such as the transition from 13-inch to lower-profile 18-inch tires, were not part of the original agreements. Pirelli is ready to continue the collaboration for the 2025-2027 period, facing new challenges.
The Formula 1-Pirelli agreement will extend for at least eighteen consecutive seasons. The renewal, ensuring supply from 2025 to 2027, was not a given, as the candidacy of Bridgestone had also reached the desks of the FIA and Liberty Media. In both forums, there was a lengthy evaluation process that considered not only technical and financial aspects.
In their thirteen seasons of collaboration, Pirelli faced challenging moments, but they remained highly cooperative, making themselves available whenever the FIA imposed rule changes.
The shift from 13 to 18-inch tires is just the latest in a series of modifications that required significant resource investments. Plans also include transitioning to tires that do not require tire warmers (under consideration for some time), as well as discussing a new size (16 inches) that might be required for the new generation of cars debuting in 2026.
Pirelli has never said ‘no,’ always remaining available to address issues and fulfill requests from the International Federation and the teams. It’s often forgotten that the Italian company is tasked with providing tires that meet specific FIA requirements, and some of the criticism received, especially in the early years, was mostly due to explicit requests from the International Federation rather than Pirelli’s work.
The three-year renewal represented a greater financial commitment for Pirelli. “Our goal is to satisfy the drivers,” said CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera with a smile, “and it’s not easy to get them all to agree. The other major goal is to please Stefano (Domenicali), and this is costing us a bit too much!”
Both Tronchetti Provera and Stefano Domenicali kept tight-lipped when asked about the financial details of the agreement. During the Doha weekend, rumors indicated that Pirelli would have to guarantee an additional $20 million to Liberty Media and reduce the cost that each team bears for the on-track service by fifty percent, a cost currently amounting to $1.5 million per season. There are also sustainability commitments, an area in which Pirelli has been actively engaged in all its programs for a long time.
The official announcement of the agreement was made at Pirelli’s Milan Bicocca headquarters, attended by Tronchetti Provera, Stefano Domenicali, and the entire company’s management team. FIA President Ben Sulayem was absent at the last minute. On the tenth floor, around the imposing cooling tower that remained to testify to last century’s industrial activities, Domenicali answered questions about why Liberty Media preferred Pirelli over Bridgestone.
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“In the end, a choice must be made,” explained the Formula 1 CEO. “The technical parameters were evaluated by the FIA, and it was a significant step. Then we positively assessed the commercial part. We believed it was right to continue with continuity. Many technical challenges await us in the future, as well as numerous commercial opportunities. We believe that the choice we made is the best for Formula 1.”
Tronchetti Provera emphasized the value of the commitment to Formula 1 as a technical proving ground while also highlighting its commercial aspects. “For us, motorsport is an open-air laboratory. Pirelli is present in 350 championships, and Formula 1 represents the most challenging and prestigious challenge. A great deal of work has been done, and there’s a surge of interest in the United States. It’s nice to see how much passion this sport is arousing in the younger generations. We will continue to do our part. We specialize in problem-solving, as we have demonstrated on multiple occasions, and this experience helps us improve our products, both on the track and on road cars.”
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