Pirelli or Bridgestone in 2025? Stefano Domenicali fears a worrying scenario for Formula 1. Stefano Domenicali fears a worrying scenario for F1.

With the final decision regarding the tire supplier between Pirelli and Bridgestone expected shortly, Stefano Domenicali fears that the Italian company may leave the sport at the end of its contract, leaving Formula 1 without bidders in 2029. The Italian company seems to be in a clear advantage over the Japanese one. However, there is talk of a possible “strategic withdrawal” in four years, having already achieved the goals set since entering in 2010.

Pirelli in a clear advantage over Bridgestone for 2025, but Stefano Domenicali is concerned
At the beginning of the year, the FIA issued a tender aimed at manufacturers for the supply of tires for the 2025-2026-2027, and 2028 seasons. The only alternative to the already existing Pirelli that emerged was Bridgestone, which had already supplied tires to the sport from 1997 to 2010.

Reports from the paddock suggest that Pirelli would be significantly ahead of the Japanese competitor, with the final decision expected shortly. According to motorsport.com, Stefano Domenicali would have pitted the two companies against each other to trigger a real auction to ensure the best possible offer for Liberty Media.

Despite Bridgestone putting forward a good offer, the risk would be to return to Formula 1 for only one season, and then switch to cars completely transformed by the new technical regulations in 2026. For these reasons, Pirelli would represent the more logical choice in terms of continuity.

However, Pirelli could decide to leave the sport after the next three years, leaving Formula 1 in an extremely delicate position, with potentially no manufacturer genuinely interested. The situation could change only if other companies, such as Michelin or Hankook, were to show interest in relatively short order.

The decision would also affect not only the financial aspect but also the sporting aspect. According to motorsport, there have been “conflicting opinions in the paddock” about the best choice of supplier that Formula 1 will have to adopt, with some believing Bridgestone is better than Pirelli, and vice versa.

In the recent past, Pirelli has also been criticized for the unreliability of its full wet tires, with drivers often choosing to exclude these tires outright and switch directly to intermediates.