Mario Isola, boss of Pirelli in Formula 1, has vocally dismissed the growing paddock whispers that suggest Pirelli might bow out of Formula 1 post-2027. This comes after Pirelli, an Italian stalwart in F1 tyre supply, managed to outmaneuver Bridgestone in securing another tenure as the sport’s exclusive tyre provider last year.
Despite the persistence of rumors hinting at Bridgestone, a brand deeply interwoven with F1’s fabric, taking the helm from 2028, Isola remains skeptical. “I don’t believe the rumours that there will be a change in tyre supplier from 2027,” Isola affirmed, according to a report by the Japanese publication as-web.jp. He adds a touch of intrigue, pondering, “We have had the tyre supply contract since 2011 so we’ve been in that role for a long time and I wonder who would have spread rumours like that.”
Isola underlines the mutual benefits Pirelli continues to reap from its F1 involvement, viewing the competitive interest from rival entities like Bridgestone as a testament to the sport’s vitality. “Each year we take on new challenges and we are not yet bored with them,” he shares.
Contrary to the speculative buzz, Isola clarifies, “Obviously, the length of our contracts has been very long and I understand why other manufacturers have entered the market and what they want. So this is positive in itself, but it does not mean that we will leave in 2027.”
—GMM
