Pirelli and F1 together for a sustainable future

By the time the next Formula 1 tyre supply contract ends, Pirelli will be the tyre company that has participated in the most Formula 1 grands prix, and also achieved the most Formula 1 wins. The numbers tell the full story: Pirelli is currently just north of 300 wins in Formula 1, and the company with the most overall wins is on 368. It's the same when it comes to participations, where Pirelli has less than 40 races to go before beating the all-time benchmark of 495 starts. With significantly more than 20 races on the calendar each year from now into the future, it's a mathematical certainty that Pirelli will now become the most prolific tyre manufacturer in the history of Formula 1 – as well as the company that invests most heavily in all forms of racing: from single-seaters to GT as well as rally and other off-road events.

This comes as no big surprise, as if there's one thing that Pirelli is all about, it's outright performance. That emphasis, summed up neatly by Pirelli's iconic ‘power is nothing without control' slogan, is true both on the race track – with a competition history that dates back nearly 120 years – as well as on the road, where around one in two of all prestige cars leave their showrooms on Pirelli tyres.

Pirelli will write another page in the history of top-level motorsport starting with the tests that precede the beginning of the next season. In Bahrain, in fact, during the three days of scheduled free practice at the Sakhir circuit from 21st to 23rd February, for the first time tyres that will be fitted on the single-seaters will be certified by the FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™). This certification ensures the complete traceability of raw materials from forests throughout the supply chain, and guarantees that the plantations from which the natural components for the tyres derive are managed in a way that both preserves their biological diversity and benefits the lives of local communities and workers, while also promoting their economic sustainability. Pirelli supports the environmental sustainability goals defined by Formula 1, which has committed to becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030. The Italian company is at the forefront of research and development, working alongside the FIA and Formula 1, to provide new solutions both in terms of sports and technology, supporting the efforts already made to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the entire lifecycle of a tire. The decision to make Formula 1 the first motorsport competition to adopt certified tires is further evidence of Pirelli's commitment to sustainability.

Those two facts are inextricably linked, because motorsport serves as an essential open-air test laboratory for the tyres eventually seen on the road. Throughout Pirelli's long and illustrious history, there have been numerous examples: low-profile tyres, now standard on performance road cars, were first developed by Pirelli in the 1970s for the Lancia Stratos to go rallying; many decades later anti-deflation mousse and run-flat tyres were another innovation first trialled in motorsport; much more recently cyber tyres for the road have mirrored the car-to-pit telemetry first used in racing. With Pirelli introducing 18-inch tyres to Formula 1 a couple of years ago, the technology transfer is now even more evident, with the sustainability initiatives championed by Formula 1 also a key part of Pirelli's strategy when it comes to producing tyres both for the road and the track. But sustainability is as much about people as it is about planet, which is why Pirelli is also putting a focus on young drivers and initiatives to help as many people as possible fulfil their potential in motorsport, thanks to programmes such as F1 Academy. Not to mention backing up the efforts made by championship promoter Liberty Media to expand the growing F1 audience among an even wider cross-section of young fans.

Formula 1 cars have never been more complex and sophisticated than they are now, with a new cycle of regulations set to be introduced from 2026 that increases the reliance on electrical power, as well as adding sustainable fuel and more horsepower. This will lead to a new family of tyres that have to cope with even bigger demands, but throughout its 13-year history in Formula 1, Pirelli has shown itself capable of reacting swiftly and capably to every rule change. As Pirelli's Executive Vice Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera pointed out: “Pirelli was there when Formula 1 was born in 1950, and we will now be a protagonist throughout nearly two decades of the modern era.”

His comments were echoed by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said: “Formula 1 is a unique challenge for the tyre supplier, and Pirelli has demonstrated great commitment to producing tyres that meet the extreme demands of these incredible cars. I would like to thank Pirelli for its ongoing support of motor sport not only in Formula 1, but in many other championships and categories at every level.”

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, who said: “Pirelli's commitment to quality, innovation and their deep knowledge of our sport will be vital in the coming years as we approach our new regulations in 2026.” 

For Pirelli, there is no time for celebration though: the preparation work starts immediately. All year, the development team has been testing the latest tyres for 2024, with prototypes often run during Friday's free practice sessions recently. Those 2024 tyres will form the basis of the tyres for 2025, as part of Pirelli's cycle of continuous evolution, before an all-new concept arrives in time for the latest regulations in 2026.  With the signing of this latest agreement, endorsed by all the leading figureheads of the sport, the future is already now.