Only One F1 Tyre Supplier?

Formula 1 could soon become a single manufacturer series, and this could happen in as little as a year, the BBC has reported. Max Mosely has said that he is “strongly in favour” of the move, according to the minutes of a high level meeting the BBC claims to have seen. Mr Mosley, the FIA president, is said to have agreed with Ferrari, the only other team at the meeting, to discuss the idea with F1’s tyre suppliers. Ferrari also backed the idea of a significant reduction in testing as part of proposals to cut costs. The issue of rising costs and how to keep them under control has caused a split between Ferrari and the other nine teams, who refused to attend the meeting last week.

If the suggestions go-ahead, it would end the current “tyre war” between Michelin and Bridgestone. Having only one tyre manufacturer would also make it easier to keep cornering speeds under control, as the company could be asked to supply only harder, less grippy, tyres for all teams. On the one hand, having only one supplier would prove the quality of the remaining manufacturer’s tyres. However, without competition, it is also likely to mean that tyres will loose the media exposure that the so-called “war” has brought them.

“The FIA has initiated a consultation on cost-cutting measures with the F1 teams in order to establish a genuine consensus for regulatory change. Among other proposals, the FIA is strongly in favour of a single tyre supplier and an FIA-regulated restriction on testing,” an FIA spokesman commented.