• Tyre News

Bridgestone could stay in F1

ESPNF1 Staff
February 23, 2010 « Virgin signs new reserve driver | »
A dramatic reduction in costs may encourage Bridgestone to stay in F1 for 2011 © Getty Images
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Concerns continue to grow over which company will supply tyres to F1 for 2011, and a move has been made to try and persuade current manufacturer Bridgestone to stay.

The Japanese company has been involved in F1 since 1997 and became the sports sole supplier in 2008. However, at the start of this year it announced its intentions to withdraw from the sport at the end of the season

Korean suppliers Kumho and Hankook were reportedly interested in taking over in 2011, but a new report in Spain's El Mundo Deportivo said the pair are in fact not serious alternatives. A Michelin spokesman said recently the French company "might consider" returning to F1 if the rules are further amended to demonstrate the tyres' role in "fuel saving and C02 reductions".

An amendment to the rules for 2010 means that the sets of tyres available to each driver at an event have been reduced from 14 to 11. It is hope that Bridgestone may be persuaded to stay by a dramatic reduction in costs, its current annual spend is reported to be €55 million.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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