Pirelli Threatens to Drop Formula One

Pirelli & Co. SpA says it may refuse to supply racing tires for next year's Formula One season unless F1's sanctioning body, the FIA, agrees to allow the company to conduct tire tests this winter.

The FIA prohibits F1 teams from testing their cars for the next season between the conclusion of this year's season finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Nov. 24 and the first allowed pre-season sessions at Spain's Jerez track the week of Jan. 27.

The ban makes it impossible for Pirelli, the sport's exclusive tire supplier, to conduct tests with competitive cars during that period. The company says extra testing is critical because next year's cars will undergo their biggest design changes in five years.

Next year's cars must comply with several significant changes in aerodynamics, for example. They also must switch to 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engines, whose torque characteristics are significantly different from this year's naturally aspirated 2.4-liter V-8 engines.

Pirelli says it isn't worried about general tire structure. But it does want to evaluate the compounds it will offer to ensure their safety and durability. Without sufficient testing, warns Pirelli motorsports chief Paul Hembery, "We won't be able to provide the tires." Observers say it is very unlikely that another tire supplier could step in at this late date.