Ecclestone: F1 Needs Faster Wearing Tyres

Bernie Ecclestone believes faster wearing tyres will make for more exciting racing in Formula One. According to Tire Review, Ecclestone told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport he thinks F1 tyres should last no more than 100 kilometres, forcing teams into at least two pit stops. “People want more overtaking," Ecclestone states. “I have a proposal: tyre sets that can be used for a maximum of 100 kilometres, with the one used in qualifying to be used in the first part of the race. This way we'd have more tyre changes at different times and there would be more confusion. The best races are the messy ones.” Ecclestone made no mention that fuel stops have been eliminated from F1 races, removing as many as two pit stops per race.

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone also revealed further details of which tyre makers were involved in the latest round of F1 tyre bidding. Speaking in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport Ecclestone – who reportedly supported Cooper Avon’s bids over Michelin and subsequent contract winner Pirelli revealed that both Hankook and Continental had also been involved at least in the early stages:

“With a phone call before Christmas. Michelin had already got in touch then, and I had also contacted Avon and the other big manufacturers. In the end five were left: the ones I mentioned, plus Hankook and Continental. All of them liked F1 but none could enter in 2011. The choice has fallen on Pirelli.”

Teams to pay 1.35 million euros a year

Interesting Ecclestone also stated that, now Pirelli has won the right to supply F1 tyres, each team will pay 1.35 million euros per year to the Italian tyre maker. Considering the sport is currently home to 12 teams, this means Pirelli will generate roughly 16.2 million euros a year in sales of F1 tyres. Furthermore Pirelli representatives had already stated that they mat cut down on involvement in other racing series in order to cover the costs of the F1 tyre supply deal. The combination of savings in other series suggests that Deutsche Bank’s US$70 million per season F1 pricetag, which originally looked somewhat conservative in light of previous estimates, look considerably more realistic now.

Related News:

• F1 Tyre Supply a $70M Per Annum Investment – Deutsche Bank

• F1 Tyre Supply to Have “Zero” Impact on Pirelli’s Budget

• Confirmed – Pirelli to Supply F1