Multiple tyre suppliers: a possibility not yet on agenda of Formula 1. A look at Pirelli and Bridgestone's bid for the new F1 tyre supply contract.

Pirelli has secured the role of global partner for Formula 1 until 2027, with an option for 2028. The Milan-based company was not the only one aspiring to this role, as Bridgestone also participated in the same tender. The double interest could resurface for the next contract, which will start from 2028 or 2029. Stefano Domenicali does not rule out the possibility of a return to multi-supply in the future, although it is not currently on the agenda.

A Cost Issue
In 2006, two tire suppliers coexisted in Formula 1, Michelin and Bridgestone. From the following season, the organizers preferred to switch to a single-supply regime, as Domenicali recalls: “This aspect was discussed with the FIA at the time to ensure a reduction in Formula 1 costs. It was the main reason we moved away from competition between suppliers, which involved extensive testing and significant research with enormous costs, toward the current direction.”

However, the president of Formula 1 does not rule out the return to a dual partnership for the next tire supply contract: “At this point, any consideration is premature. It could be a possibility for the future. In the current situation, where cost control is a relevant issue, I would say we have not yet decided, but it is not even on the agenda to evaluate if it could be a possibility. If costs can be controlled in the future, I don’t see why not, but at the moment, there is no discussion with the FIA and the teams.”

Asked about the issue, not even Pirelli’s Executive Vice Chairman, Marco Tronchetti Provera, showed reluctance, given the challenge from other companies in various international championships: “Pirelli participates in over three hundred championships in the world of motorsport. In most of these, there are also other suppliers, against whom we are happy to compete. It would not be a problem for us. Challenging other companies is an opportunity for us to develop our technology.”

The Concerns
Although far from becoming a reality, the possibility of a return to multi-tire supply presents several obstacles. The coexistence of two companies would undoubtedly benefit the category’s exposure and income but would clash with various logistical and technical issues. The first is that the tires would return to having different specifications, going against the recent efforts of the FIA and Formula 1 to reduce differentiation and ensure closer competition.

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The suppliers would also no longer be global partners of the category but would become participants in every sense, with their personal interests within the competition. In recent years, however, a single partner like Pirelli has proven to be a valuable ally for the FIA, jointly addressing various technical issues that have emerged with tires and cars. Most recently, the tire issue in Qatar, which, if it had affected only one company in a scenario of dual supply, would probably have sparked a heated debate among the parties involved, making it difficult to agree on a solution.

Finally, as mentioned by former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, doubling the suppliers would result in increased on-track development testing. In commenting on the possibility of a return to private testing, however, FIA Single-Seater Technical Director Nikolas Tombazis highlighted the miles driven as problematic: “Let’s not forget that when testing was allowed, a lot more tires and engines were wasted. […] It’s not something that goes in a direction consistent with modern times.” In conclusion, the return to multi-tire supply is not a scenario to be ruled out for the future, although it remains significantly distant at the moment.