Why Pirelli is the Exclusive Tyre Supplier for Formula One World Championship

Pirelli’s Road to Becoming F1’s Sole Supplier

Since 2011, Pirelli has served as the exclusive tyre supplier for Formula One (F1), a partnership that continues today with the supply contract extended through at least 2027. We’ll dig into how that came about, why F1 settled on a single-supplier model, and why Pirelli became the long-term partner.

The switch to a single-supplier model

Prior to 2007, F1 often had multiple tyre manufacturers competing simultaneously—what’s known as “tyre wars”—which produced rapid technological leaps but also escalating costs, safety risks, and huge performance disparities between teams.

To take control of cost, safety and competitive balance, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) instituted the single-tyre supplier rule for F1. Pirelli secured the contract starting in 2011, stepping in after Bridgestone ended its involvement.

Key reasons for the single-supplier decision:

• Reduced cost and complexity by eliminating competition between tyre makers.
• Controlling safety more effectively (tyre failures became easier to monitor).
• Ensuring all teams have the same tyre base, making strategy, setup and driver skill more meaningful.
• Enabling the sport to demand specific performance characteristics (e.g., faster degradation for more pit stops, more overtaking).

Why Pirelli? Why them, why then?

There are several reasons Pirelli became—and remains—the supplier of choice for F1:

1. Expertise in high-performance motorsport tyres

Pirelli has a long history in motorsport, and F1 represents its top “open-air laboratory” for innovation. Their own materials and manufacturing research benefit from working with F1’s extreme demands.

2. Willingness to meet F1’s performance brief

F1’s tyre rules require that tyres degrade within a race (to provoke strategic variation and overtaking), not simply last forever. Pirelli accepted this brief and has produced tyres that align with F1’s entertainment and sporting goals.

3. Partnership, data sharing and support across the grid

Pirelli doesn’t just supply tyres and leave. They deploy engineers to every event, collect telemetry from hundreds of channels, and support teams with feedback—treating F1 as a full-scale R&D platform.

4. Commitment to sustainability and future tech

As F1 pursues Net Zero Carbon ambitions by 2030, Pirelli has aligned with that vision: they introduced FSC-certified tyres (Forest Stewardship Council) for F1 starting 2024 and are adapting their materials and processes accordingly.

The supply contract and continuity

Pirelli’s current contract runs at least until 2027, with an option for 2028. During the tender process for 2025-27 supply, competitors (e.g., Bridgestone) were reportedly in contention, yet F1 and the FIA chose continuity with Pirelli. This continuity means all teams rely on the same tyre partner, which aids stability in technical regulation cycles (e.g., the shift to 18-inch rims in 2022 and further changes in 2026).

How the relationship benefits both F1 and Pirelli

• For F1, having a single supplier ensures parity: all teams and drivers face the same tyre baseline, making strategy, car design and driver execution more meaningful. It also reduces the risk of dangerous tyre failures from tyre wars.
• For Pirelli, F1 offers a high-visibility platform and extreme R&D environment. Pirelli uses F1 data and technology to inform its road-tyre business and to strengthen its brand.

Why change is harder now (and why multiple suppliers are unlikely)

• Multiple suppliers might drive innovation, but they'd also bring cost escalation. More importantly, every time there was a “tyre war” in F1’s history the safety risk increased.
• With modern F1 cars and tyres, logistics, regulation complexity and standardisation make switching suppliers costly and disruptive.
• Pirelli has built up specific knowledge and infrastructure (tyre factories, shipping, tyres for new wheel sizes, global logistics, telemetry) tailored to F1’s cycle. A new supplier would need to replicate all that.
• The performance demands continue to increase: 18-inch tyres, hybrid power units, future 2026 regulations—all require a partner able to adapt, and F1 trusts Pirelli to do so.

A Trusted Partner

Pirelli is F1’s exclusive tyre supplier because they met the sport’s twin demands of performance and parity, have the capability to develop extreme tyres, and have grown into a trusted partner aligned with F1’s future (including sustainability). The single-supplier model helps F1 keep the competition within grasp, control costs, protect safety, and focus attention on racing rather than tyre manufacturer conflict.