F1 Statistics: Michelin Hot on Dunlop’s Heels

If Michelin can continue its recent run of Formula 1 success by winning in Montreal, the French tyre maker could find itself moving up a place in the sport’s list of all-time greats. Goodyear is top of the pile when it comes to F1 tyres suppliers, but this is mainly due to its position as exclusive supplier for many years. Goodyear leads with 368 victories (between 1962 and 1998), while Bridgestone is in second place with 94 victories (1997 to 2004). Dunlop has clocked up 83 successes (1958 to 1970).

So far Michelin has managed to achieve 82 victories between 1978 and 1984 as well as since 2001. If the French team can win again in Montreal, it could be in pole position to overtake Dunlop. Here’s a sobering thought for the Bridgestone team: If the Frenchmen can win all the remaining races they could even get as far as drawing level with Bridgestone.

Other names on the list of Formula 1’s all-time tyre greats include: Firestone (49 victories between 1950 and 1960 as well as between 1966 and 1972); Pirelli (42 victories between 1950 and 1958 as well as between 1983 and 1991); Continental (10 victories between 1954 and 1958) level with Englebert (10 victories in 1952 as well as between 1956 and 1958). The wooden spoon goes to Avon. After competing in the 1981/1982 season the team left empty handed.

Renault boss calls for single tyre series

As we can see the best way to get your tyre’s suppliers name into the history books is to provide the control tyre in a single tyre series. And Renault team principal, Flavio Briatore, has called for just that, suggesting that Formula 1 could be better off with just one supplier.

Briatore made the suggestions responding to questions about Kimi Raikkonen’s controversial retirement on the last lap of the European Grand Prix where a flat-spotted right-front tyre led to a catastrophic suspension failure. The Renault boss indicated that tyre performance has now become the single most significant factor in the outcome of a race.

“The sport is becoming more of a tyre championship rather than a car one,” he said adding: “There are two tyre manufacturers in the sport but it would be far more logical if there was just one. We have tested the tyres for some 40,000 kilometres and we still can’t predict everything that will happen and you only have to look what happened to Raikkonen at Nurburgring.”