F1 responds to Bridgestone exit…sort of
November 3, 2009 by Negative Camber
Filed under Prime & Option
F1 has responded to Bridgestone’s shock announcement that they will leave the sport as its single-supplier after the 2010 season. The news shook the F1 world as it was unexpected and and quite challenging for the series as the FIA regulations have prevented a multiple-supplier format since 2008.
We were expecting to see an PR effort in damage control to mitigate the news but it did not happen until 24 hours later. Odd that a story of this magnitude would be left to fester for this long but F1 has made an official statement:
Formula One racing is set to use a new tyre supplier from 2011 after Bridgestone announced on Monday that they will not be renewing their current contract when it expires at the end of 2010.
Bridgestone have been participating in the sport since 1997, winning 156 Grands Prix, 10 drivers’ and 10 constructors’ titles. They became the official sole supplier to the championship in 2008.
That’s basically it. There rest of the story was just reprinting Bridgestone’s official press release. So the FOM has acknowledged Bridgestone’s decision and suggested that F1 will use a new tire supplier for 2011. Realistically that’s all you can expect from them at this point depending on if this news was known well before its announcement or if it was a shock to them like the rest of us.
Better late than never I suspect and I do appreciate the optimistic use of “set to use” as if F1 has already identified the potential supplier. Nice job boys.
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It’s not spin doctoring it’s pure BS. At Lime Rock this year, their PR guy (le Mans Series) said that Bridgestone would be expanding their involvement in the “largest tire market in the world via the Le Mans Series”. I think that must also be considered as part of their F1 decisions. Bernie? No US GP, Bridgestone loses 32% of their retail sales market. It is as simple as that.
And who’s going to replace them? No one I can see. Time for the FIA to admit another cost-cutting defeat and increase budgets so that F1 mfg.s can buy tires.
Completely agree. They are looking at competing again with Michelin in Le Mans as this Mosley cost cut tactic has not done anything for them. I would say open the series back up to multiple makes and see if B”stone doesn’t stay.