Bridgestone Motorsport announced Monday that it will leave F1 at the end of the 2010 world championship campaign, becoming the third major manufacturer to walk away from the grid in the space of two years - though it insisted the global credit crunch was not the root cause.
Bridgestone entered F1 back in 1997 as a rival to Goodyear, and has been the sport’s sole tyre-supplier since 2007 - a year earlier than scheduled - following Michelin’s premature withdrawal in the wake of the Indianapolis débâcle.
Its current contract expires at the end of next year, but only a day after the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Tokyo-based company revealed that there will be no renewal and that begs the question...
Which manufacturer will now pick up the mantle?
Could it be Goodyear?
Or maybe Pirelli?
Or Michelin?
Let us know your thoughts and vote in our poll...
To have your say, click here
Comment 4 - 23 of 23
What about AVON ?
Wasn't it owned by Ecclestone ?
If my memory serves me right, in the 80s, during the tyre war between Michelin and GooYear, there were also rumours that they could quit the formula 1 and Ecclestone said that AVON would supply the tyres.
michelin recently did not aprticipate in bid to be the sole tyre suuplier of MOTO GP.. but they suuplied the A1GP.. they might be have comeback with F1 next yera.. but pirelli could be there.. they already supplied WRC.. ..
i'll go 4 good year.. it is good 4 god year to supply F1 again so they could introduce new tyres for the nascar..
I dont think michelin will come back unless they can compete against another tire company. Thats another reason why they didnt put in a bid to be sole tire supplier.
michelin
Goodyear the best choice here if one tyre is only allowed, but Perelli and Michelin should also be allowed to supply tyres for the F1 grid if the FIA change their one tyre supplier rule...............
Ferrari has had a special tire development deal with Bridgestone for many years. The tires all the teams have been using were developed by and for the Ferrari car. The FIA/Ferrari alliance kicked Michelin out because the Michelin tires were better and McLaren was winning with them. If anyone wants to know who will be providing tires next year, just ask Ferrari/Todt. That's who calls the shots.
I wish to see at least 2 of them in F1. Michelin had proven to be such a good competitor in F1. They have to come back. FIA should revise the sole tyre supplier rule to allow more suppliers.
The is pro and con of single supplier.
Pro...
There is no variable in different tyre performance to the car. Everyone uses the same tyres.
Tyre manufactuer have full control of what tyres to supply. Without the tyre war, the tyre development cost is controlled.
Con...
More tyres have to be supplied to all the teams, in that way, increase the cost of participation. This is probably compensated by the reduced development cost.
There is no comparison/competition at all. Who knows which tyre is better? With competition, the development cost will of course go up because you want to be ahead of competitor.
There are 128 days until the 2010 season starts. Why worry about something that doesn't happen until 2011? Oh, I forgot. The press have to keep things in FULL CRISIS MODE at all times; otherwise we might notice how little they actually contribute to life.
We should ALL pray that Goodyear does NOT decide to get involved in F1. Their NASCAR product often has allot to be desired. Not to mention the fact that when they made Motorcycle Tires, Kenny Roberts ended up refusing to ride on them anymore!!! I could see Avon, Pirelli, Michelin or even Dunlop... ANYONE BUT GOODYEAR PLEASE... Hoosier wanted to get into NASCAR but the totally POLITICAL folk's who run NASCAR saw to it that the SOLE Tire Suppier contract remained with Goodyear. Hmm... sounds kinda familiar don't it?
Red Ears: Only at Silverstone. If they can find any that Touronroutes pikey friends have left.
georgeneil, # 12, then teams go out into the parking lot and take tires off fans cars regardless of brand name. ;^)
Err what happens if none of the manufacturers want to make F1 tyres will they race on the rims ?
Why yahoo posted this news.. if this is news at all. Bridgestones withdrawal should be a relief such as that the teams can now choose the best tyres that will suit their needs. Let the teams choose thier own tyres whatever brand it may be. Then us comsumer can detect what the best tyres in the market by longevity of tread wear, safest tyre that wont explode, with so much grip, all weather. Then the best F1 team will win not just becasue of the timing and engine but, becuase the tyre choice is somewhat perfect. There are a lot of tyre manufacturer out in the market, Firestone, Yokohama, Continental, General, Pirelli, Dunlop, BF Goodrich, Goodyear
Why not two suppliers. Beats the old super softs falling apart rubbish bridgestone give us
Dunlop
What is this for an idiotic question how can we have any insight in those companies ....this must be a quetion of a funny clown.!!
davidhasthefly.......what bikes are you referring to??
The way things are going in F1 they may not be able to attract any big manufacturers. Maybe Coker would make some repros. They need to let the teams use any tire meeting the same standards.
why have just one tyre manufacturer anyway lets have some good old competition
Does nobody check these webpages before they are uploaded?
Michelin. Okay, thay had a bad day in the states a couple of years ago, but they do a great job on the bikes.
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