Yesterday, we at ScuderiaFans.com had the privilege of attending the event organized by Pirelli for the presentation of “A Stir of the Soul – Pirelli’s 500 GPs in the F1 World Championship”, the commemorative volume celebrating the Italian company’s milestone of 500 Formula 1 Grands Prix.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance, alongside Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, was former FIA president and one of motorsport’s most influential figures, Jean Todt.
Reflecting on Pirelli’s long history in racing, the Frenchman paid tribute to the company’s achievements across multiple categories of motorsport.
“Good morning everyone, and thank you Marco, thank you to Pirelli for inviting me to take part in this celebration of the 500th Grand Prix. You are talking about 2010, but we could go much further back than that. I have had the opportunity to work with Pirelli at different stages of my career, sometimes as a partner, other times as a driver, but always with great respect. It is remarkable to see the results this company has achieved in every motorsport category in which it has been involved,” Jean Todt said.
Pirelli’s return to Formula 1 was a courageous decision
Jean Todt also recalled Pirelli’s return to Formula 1 in 2011, describing it as a move that required both courage and commitment.
“Having Pirelli back in Formula 1 was something special. It was a very courageous decision. I believe that the importance of tyres is often underestimated. It is almost a thankless situation because people usually talk about tyres only when something goes wrong: a puncture, a failure or a problem during a race.
“But when you look closely at the work required to supply tyres to ten Formula 1 teams, you understand just how complex the challenge really is. They have to be virtually perfect. If something does not work on a car, everyone’s attention immediately focuses on that problem. That is why it is important to recognize the courage required to compete at the highest level of motorsport, with all the responsibilities that come with it.”
The role of tyres remains one of the most delicate aspects of motorsport. In Formula 1, perhaps more than in any other category, tyre management can determine the success or failure of a strategy, a race and, at times, an entire championship campaign.
Tyres can make the difference between winning and losing
Drawing on his extensive experience in Formula 1, Jean Todt emphasized just how decisive tyres have been throughout the sport’s history.
“It is fundamental. You can win or lose because of the tyres. I lived through periods in Formula 1 when there were two or three tyre manufacturers competing against each other, and I can tell you that it was an extremely tough battle. Back then, tyres truly made the difference between victory and defeat. Today, that situation would probably no longer be sustainable, particularly because of the costs involved.”
The tyre wars of previous decades often played a decisive role in determining competitive order, pushing manufacturers to continuously innovate in pursuit of performance advantages.
The importance of collaboration between teams and suppliers
In the final part of his speech, Jean Todt highlighted the importance of maintaining a close working relationship between teams and tyre suppliers, even in the current single-supplier era.
“Later, Formula 1 moved to a single-supplier model, but that does not mean all cars react in the same way. I remember that when I was a team principal in Formula 1, after every race we would meet with our tyre representative to analyse everything that had happened during the weekend and understand how we could improve for the next race. Even with a single supplier, building a close and collaborative relationship remains a fundamental element.”
His comments serve as a reminder that while Formula 1 has evolved significantly over the years, the relationship between teams and tyre manufacturers continues to be one of the key ingredients behind success at the highest level of motorsport.
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