Jun.8 (GMM)  Hankook is no longer in the running to supply tyres to F1 teams in 2011, but the Korean company is not ruling out another bid within the next “two or three years”.

Michelin, Kumho and Avon were also interested in replacing the sport’s departing official supplier Bridgestone, but it is believed Pirelli is now in pole position for the deal.

But executive vice president Hyan Bum Cho told the Sydney Morning Herald that Seoul-based Hankook might be interested in succeeding the Italian marque.

“Currently we do have a little Le Mans team, and some rally teams here and there, and we try to sell some motor sports tyres,” he is quoted by the Australian newspaper.

“In the future we want to have some hefty market share in that segment.  It’s quite profitable, but in order to really leverage from motor sports in terms of brands, you need to participate in either world rally championship or a very high segment in Le Mans, or formula one,” added Cho.

“So in the future that’s the target that we have, to participate in those segments.  And that’s going to cost a lot of money, a lot of development cost, a lot of investment, and also how to run these operations with experience.”

Hankook’s Cho confirmed that becoming the new formula one supplier next year was discussed.

“Probably you know that Mr Ecclestone has some trouble with tyres this year.  I talked to him personally (but) we decided not to go on with the programme.

“He needed a tyre very, very quick, and we could not prepare it,” Cho admitted.

“But we had a very good talk and maybe we’ll have a shot for next term, or another term.”

Italian media sources are reporting that Pirelli will be F1′s sole tyre supplier in 2011 and beyond.

Autosprint and Italiaracing say the Milan-based marque has been selected by the teams and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone to replace the departing control supplier Bridgestone.

Reportedly also in the running had been Michelin as well as minor contenders Avon, Kumho and Hankook.

When asked to nominate his preference, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said this week: “As an Italian I prefer Pirelli, but experience tells me Michelin.

“In the end it will be the same for everyone,” he said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Autosprint said Pirelli will be paid 1 million euros per team per season in 2011, 2012 and 2013, in exchange for identical attention and service and a range of just three compounds: soft, medium and hard.

At least initially, the tyres will be in a similar 13-inch specification to the current Bridgestone product, with a longer-term ambition being a move to a low profile.

The decision is set to be confirmed shortly by the World Motor Sport Council.

Spain’s El Mundo Deportivo reports that Pirelli, already the supplier of the new GP3 series as well as world rally, is also likely to supply GP2 next year.

Pirelli was last in F1 in 1991.
(GMM)

Stefano Domenicali on Sunday indicated that Avon-Cooper and Bridgestone are no longer in the running to supply formula one tyres next year.

The Ferrari boss was discussing with the media Sunday’s series of meetings at Monaco, where a decision about the departing Bridgestone’s 2011 replacement was again deferred.

“It will probably take another week,” the Italian is quoted by Germany’s Motorsport-Magazin.com.  “Perhaps next weekend.”

Avon was among those who have submitted formal proposals, and in recent days the teams have been pushing Bridgestone to reconsider its decision not to seek a new contract as the sport’s official sole supplier.

But Domenicali revealed: “There are only two possibilities; Michelin and Pirelli.”

(GMM)

After no less than three meetings in Monaco, a final decision about F1′s tyre situation for 2011 still has not been made.

The latest meeting was held on Sunday morning, with team bosses discussing solid proposals made by Michelin, Avon and Pirelli, amid reports Bridgestone might be persuaded to stay.

According to the BBC, FOTA’s technical chief Ross Brawn said the Italian marque Pirelli’s proposal is a viable one.

“We’ve had a good proposal from Pirelli which we’re looking into seriously,” he said.

It is believed another meeting will be held within the next few days, where a final decision is likely.

(GMM)

Pirelli has clarified that it is not interested in competing in formula one with other tyre suppliers.

It was confirmed officially last week that the Italian marque has submitted an application to replace Bridgestone as the sport’s sole supplier.

Michelin also wants to come back to formula one next year, and it has been rumoured in recent days that Pirelli might be willing to satisfy the French company’s desire to race against other tyre brands.

“At the moment we are having discussions about a single supplier situation, not about an open market,” Pirelli’s racing manager Mario Isola is quoted by Auto Hebdo.

The latest edition of the French magazine also said Bridgestone, Avon, Kumho and Hankook are the other candidates to supply F1 teams next year.

The teams are pushing hard for clarity about 2011 tyre supply, but it is now rumoured that a resolution is unlikely by the end of the Monaco race weekend.

“The good news is there appears to be several companies interested in supplying tyres to formula one,” said FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh.

(GMM)

Bridgestone is showing signs of performing a dramatic U-turn and staying in formula one beyond 2010.

Currently, the Japanese supplier is due to depart at the end of the season, as potential replacements including Michelin, Pirelli, Avon, Kumho and possibly others clamour at the paddock turnstiles.

But the teams are trying to persuade Bridgestone to stay, and have written a letter to Bridgestone Europe that will be passed on to CEO Shoshi Arakawa.

“The request is an honour,” said the marque’s F1 boss Hiroshi Yasukawa.

Before departing Barcelona, he indicated in a statement that F1 is still important to Bridgestone.

“We hosted guests from the USA and Brazil as well as many from our European markets which has illustrated the importance of formula one as a business tool,” said Yasukawa.

“Our sales companies continue to support our formula one activities, showing the significance of this to our business.

“We are proud to have the support of all of the teams in this fantastic sport,” he added.

FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh said the teams are hoping the issue of 2011 tyre supply is settled in Monaco this weekend, but Stefano Domenicali fears it might take another week.

“There are four proposals that appear to be out there and maybe there’s another couple as well,” Whitmarsh confirmed to Reuters.

And with Michelin wanting tyre competitors and the smaller teams wanting cheaper options, the Briton admitted that the concept of multiple brands in F1 next year is not out of the question.

But he insisted: “If you use multiple suppliers, it has got to be controlled in terms of testing and development.”

(GMM)

Rumours have resurfaced once again that suggest Bridgestone is contemplating staying in formula one beyond 2011.

Michelin, Pirelli and Avon are all vying to replace the sport’s apparently departing official sole supplier.

But in Barcelona on Saturday, FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh met with Bridgestone officials.

The FOTA group then met on Sunday morning.

Admitting that a new name entering F1 is a “risk”, Whitmarsh is quoted as saying by Motorsport-Magazin.com: “Bridgestone has done a great job in F1.  We would be happy if we could persuade them to stay.”

Whitmarsh also admitted that FOTA is reluctant to re-open the door to a tyre war, as per Michelin’s wishes, due to the need to control costs for the sake of the smaller teams.

It is believed next weekend’s Monaco event has been set as a target for the finalisation of the issue of 2011 tyre supply.

(GMM)

Michelin is close to seeing the green light to return to formula one in 2011.

Even though Avon and Pirelli have also expressed interest in replacing the sport’s departing supplier Bridgestone, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said Michelin is the favourite after diluting some of its earlier demands.

The publication said a three-year deal through 2013 is likely, with every team paying the French marque 3 million euros per season.

The deal will also see Michelin branding on the cars, driver overalls and around the grand prix circuits, but the wheel diameter width will not immediately be changed from the current 13 to lower-profile 18-inch tyres.

Michelin will reportedly provide less tyres per car per weekend than is currently the case, and three different compounds — hard, medium and soft, with the teams able to select which compounds are used.

Auto Motor und Sport said Michelin branding will be on the drivers’ shoulders next year, and a logo on the nose of the cars and the rearward-facing rear wing.

Representatives of the Italian marque Pirelli, however, will make a presentation to the teams in Spain this weekend, and are touted to supply the GP2 field beginning next year.

Apr.29 (GMM)  Pirelli has definitely joined the race to supply tyres to formula one teams next year.

We reported last week that, after a shareholder’s meeting of the Italian company, chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera said Pirelli might be interested in entering F1 if certain conditions are met.

He said that if the permitted diameter of F1 tyres is increased, and providing the arrangement makes financial sense, Pirelli would “look into this (F1) world with greater attention”.

But in the wake of his comments, the F1 teams alliance FOTA met on Wednesday of this week, and Williams’ Sam Michael emerged confirming that the bulk of the conversation centred on a choice between Michelin and Avon.

However, Pirelli said in a statement on Thursday that it will now “present … an offer for the supply of tyres to all the teams in the F1 championship”.

The marque said the presentation will take place in Barcelona ahead of next weekend’s Spanish grand prix.

Apr.29 (GMM) Formula one’s tyre situation for 2011 is unlikely to be resolved by the forthcoming Spanish grand prix.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, and McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh, said last week that with Bridgestone departing at the end of the year, the issue of tyres for 2011 should be agreed by Barcelona.

“I think we will know something more, I would say 100 per cent, by Barcelona” next weekend, Domenicali said before departing Shanghai.

But after a FOTA meeting on Wednesday, Williams’ technical director Sam Michael said he felt a decision by Spain was now unlikely.

The teams alliance was earlier believed to have agreed in principle to be supplied by Michelin next year, but Avon has made a lower-cost proposal that is understood to be backed by Bernie Ecclestone and smaller teams.

The Italian marque Pirelli has also indicated interest in entering F1 next year, but the bulk of Wednesday’s FOTA conversation centred on a choice between Michelin and Avon.

“Avon’s a lot cheaper (than Michelin) but it’s a less proven product although they’ve done plenty of highly competitive tyres,” Michael is quoted as saying by the BBC.

“They (Avon) are a bigger unknown than Michelin because Michelin did it (F1) very recently. But there is a significant difference in cost and you are probably talking over three times the difference in cost to the teams,” he added.

Apr.22 (GMM)  A third name has emerged as a potential supplier of formula one tyres in 2011.

It has been confirmed that Michelin, favoured by the FOTA group, as well as Avon-Cooper – believed to be favoured by Bernie Ecclestone and small F1 teams due to its lower-cost proposal – are in the running to replace the departing official supplier Bridgestone.

Milan-based Pirelli said late last year that it did not want to enter F1 because it “prefers to develop tyres for racing that will also be used on the road”.

But after a shareholder’s meeting in Milan on Wednesday, chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera said Pirelli might rethink its attitude if certain conditions are met.

Like Michelin, he said Pirelli wants the diameter of F1′s tyres to be increased from 13 to 18 inches, and would also need to supply its product with an economic benefit to the company.

According to Italian reports including ANSA and the Milan daily Il Giornale, Tronchetti Provera added that if those conditions can be met, Pirelli would “look into this (F1) world with greater attention”.

He insisted however that at the moment “there is nothing” more to the rumours.

Apr.20 (GMM) Avon has confirmed reports it is a potential supplier of tyres in formula one next year.

The name entered the frame as a potential replacement for F1′s departing sole supplier Bridgestone in China last weekend, amid suggestions the teams group FOTA had agreed an in-principle deal with Michelin.

But with the famous French marque wanting to be paid and pushing for regulations allowing much lower profile tyres, it was rumoured Avon was favoured by Bernie Ecclestone and the smaller teams as a non-branded and cheaper option.

UK based Avon, supplier to the defunct A1GP open wheeler series, was sold to Ohio based Cooper in 1997.

Its motor racing division said in a statement that it “has been approached” to supply tyres to F1 teams.

“The company is in discussion with the relevant parties and cannot comment further at this stage,” said Avon Cooper.

It is rumoured that Bridgestone could remain quietly involved beyond this year as the non-official supplier of technology and personnel to Avon.

F1 team bosses Martin Whitmarsh and Stefano Domenicali said they are confident the issue will be resolved by the next race in Barcelona.

“I think we will know something more, I would say 100 per cent, by Barcelona,” Ferrari’s Domenicali said before departing Shanghai.