Yesterday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Pirelli unveiled “A Stir of the Soul – Pirelli’s 500 GPs in the F1 World Championship”, a commemorative volume created to celebrate the milestone of 500 Grands Prix contested in the Formula 1 World Championship.
During the event, which we at ScuderiaFans.com had the privilege of attending, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also took the stage to pay tribute to the Italian tyre manufacturer and its long-standing contribution to the sport.
The Imola-born executive began by thanking the company and the people who have helped make the partnership between Formula 1 and Pirelli such a success.
“First of all, I would like to thank Marco and his entire team: Giovanni, Mario, Dario and everyone working behind the scenes to make this partnership so long-lasting and strong. From 2011 to 2028, so far, Pirelli has always been part of Formula 1,” Domenicali said.
The crucial role of tyres in Formula 1
Domenicali then highlighted the fundamental role tyres play in modern Formula 1.
“Everyone talks about thousandths of a second, but in the end there is only one element connecting the cars, the power of the engines and the asphalt: the tyres. And it is great that everyone talks about them. The facts have shown, and continue to show, that Pirelli is the only company capable of taking on this incredible technological challenge.
“Many people are good at talking, but when the time comes to truly prove their value, things become much more difficult. That is why I thank you for all your commitment.”
A symbol of Italian excellence with a global impact
During his speech, the Formula 1 CEO also underlined the cultural and historical significance of the Milan-based company.
“For me personally, there is not much more to add. As an Italian, I am proud to see an Italian company with an international dimension contributing so significantly to Formula 1. But today we are also talking about the foundations of Pirelli, its social and cultural impact, something we should never forget. This book tells a story made up of people, images and emotions that retrace the journey of Formula 1 and Pirelli from 1950 to the present day. That too is an important reward for everything we have built together.”
Domenicali also pointed to Pirelli’s growing influence across the wider motorsport landscape.
“If we also consider the expansion into MotoGP and the established presence in Superbike, we can say that Pirelli today represents something very important for all motorsport fans.”
A partnership set to continue
The Formula 1 CEO reiterated that the relationship between Formula 1 and Pirelli is built on constant collaboration and is destined to continue well into the future.
“I thank them because none of this can ever be taken for granted. There is still a lot of work to do together. I am not a technician, but I know how important the development work is that we carry out alongside the FIA, the drivers and the engineers.
“That is what makes our relationship so strong, and I am looking forward to facing the coming years together.”
Despite spending many years in Formula 1, Pirelli has consistently maintained extremely high standards and remained competitive at the very highest level. In an environment as demanding and constantly evolving as motorsport, that achievement is far from guaranteed.
For that reason, Stefano Domenicali returned to the significance of the milestone during a later part of his speech.
“In the world of racing, staying at the top is never guaranteed. When Pirelli found itself competing against other tyre manufacturers in the past, it learned a great deal. That is how competition works: you must look not only inside your own company but also outside it, searching for new ideas, new methodologies and new materials.
“What Pirelli has managed to achieve during the different phases of its Formula 1 journey demonstrates the validity of the approach it has adopted.”
Looking ahead to the next 500 Grands Prix
Stefano Domenicali explained that extending the partnership was ultimately the natural choice, even if the decision-making process was never straightforward: “In the end, the decision to continue together was a natural one, even if it was never simple. When you have to evaluate such complex aspects, the work is always demanding. The FIA President spoke about innovation, performance and safety: these are the values that have guided the extraordinary journey we have built together.”
Concluding his lengthy address, the Formula 1 CEO turned his attention to the future challenges awaiting both the championship and Pirelli: “New sporting challenges lie ahead. We must continue to find the right balance between performance, entertainment and the ability for drivers to push to the limit. There are important areas that still need development, such as wet-weather tyre performance and the technological evolution that will accompany the future of the category.
“The great opportunity we have is to analyse what has been achieved so far and transform it into a foundation for the future. We will face all of this with professionalism and an open mind. Hiding problems is never the right approach, and it never has been.
“It is precisely this spirit that brought Pirelli to its 500th Grand Prix, and it is the same spirit that must accompany us through the next 500.”
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