F1, Pirelli favored for tire supply since 2017

Pirelli would still be favored in the race to supply tires for the Formula 1 world championship starting from 2017. Michelin's entry into the premier category has suddenly become less likely.

The FIA ​​has already started the new supplier selection process for the 2017 to 2019 contract and Pirelli has already announced that it will submit its request. “On June 27th we will present our offer,” Pirelli president Marco Tronchetti Provera said last week. And regarding Michelin's interest he declared: "We'll see who will be there on June 17th."

Michelin would have renounced the condition of having another competitor for a new "tire war" in F1 but the French company demands important technical changes such as the transition from traditional 13-inch rims to 18 or 19-inch ones. A measure that Pirelli is also experimenting with but suddenly in Canada the teams have made it clear that they are unlikely to abandon the 13-inch rims.

“As Paddy Lowe (Mercedes) said, the diameter of the rims will remain the same but the width of the tires may vary,” said James Allison, Ferrari's technical director.

According to Speed ​​Week magazine, both Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA ​​are against the idea of ​​letting Michelin dictate the rules for tires and the F1 boss would also be in favor of Pirelli remaining.

Even Mercedes said it was more satisfied with the Italian supplier: "We are very happy with Pirelli" Toto Wolff declared to the newspaper La Presse. “They do a great job. Every time we ask them for something, they do it. Personally, I am convinced that it would be positive to continue with Pirelli."