Pirelli Shrugs Off Bridgestone Threat as F1 Tyre Tender Looms

Pirelli has brushed aside the possibility of Bridgestone challenging for Formula 1’s tyre supply contract after 2028, insisting the next tender is the FIA’s process and that its focus remains on the current deal. The Italian manufacturer has been F1’s sole supplier since 2011, and the FIA’s decision to trigger a one-year option in June 2026 extended its agreement through the end of 2028.

Why it matters:

Bridgestone is reportedly preparing fresh technical and commercial groundwork for a bid covering 2029 and beyond, setting up a potential rematch after losing out to Pirelli in the 2023 tender for the 2025-2027 cycle. The FIA is expected to launch the next process around early 2027, with technical performance, safety, logistics, sustainability and commercial terms all likely to shape the decision.

The details:

• Pirelli motorsport boss Dario Marrafuschi said he had no comment on the future and noted there are still two years left on the contract.
• He stressed that selection beyond 2028 is “in the hands of the FIA” and that Pirelli is focused on the next two seasons.
• Bridgestone supplied F1 from 1997 to 2010 and was sole supplier from 2007, but its 2023 bid reportedly cleared technical approval before commercial terms went Pirelli’s way.
• Marrafuschi downplayed recent manufacturer interest in attending races, saying anyone is free to watch.

What's next:

Pirelli will monitor the tender process but has given little indication of how aggressively it will pursue another extension. With the FIA likely to open the bidding in early 2027, the post-2028 tyre deal could become a significant strategic battleground—though Pirelli is publicly treating it as a distant issue.