Should F1 have switched from Pirelli tyres to Bridgestones?

Pirelli will carry on supplying F1 with its tyres until at least the end of 2027, having beaten off a rival bid from Bridgestone for a three-year contract starting in 2025.

The deal includes an option for another year on top of that, and although that would bring its stay in F1 up to 18 seasons, reports suggest this could be Pirelli’s last contract before it does a Rosberg and departs for good.

The news - first reported by BBC Sport ahead of this week’s official announcement - comes just days after the Qatar Grand Prix had to be run with strict tyre life limits due to major safety concerns.

Pirelli bosses discovered that the newly renovated track’s aggressive kerbs were causing excessive damage to every tyre compound, raising fears of dangerous failures.

Last-minute changes were made to the circuit ahead of the race, and as a precaution the FIA decided that no tyre should be used for more than 18 laps.

With every driver needing to make at least three pit stops during the grand prix, it allowed the field to push for longer than it’s used to. And combined with the intense heat - which race-winner Max Verstappen later branded “too extreme” - several drivers suffered from dehydration, heat exposure and in the case of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, vomiting. Not what you need at 200mph.

Still, at least F1 will be dealing with a known entity for the next few years, and the FIA says Pirelli’s tyres will target a “wide working range”, with steps taken to minimise overheating and degradation, all while allowing for variations in pit stop strategies. Easier said than done.

“We’re delighted to extend our presence in Formula 1 and its other related championships,” said Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli’s exec VP. “Pirelli was there when Formula 1 was born in 1950, and with this latest renewal, the firm will now be a protagonist throughout nearly two decades of the modern Formula 1 era.

“Thanks to the impetus from Liberty Media and the support of the FIA, the sport is enjoying an extraordinary period of growth both in terms of audience and global expansion, increasing its following among younger generations as well.

“Being at the forefront of motorsport’s pinnacle until at least 2027 adds another important value dimension to our company.”

Starting next year, Pirelli’s F1 tyres will also be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which it is claimed will allow the materials used to be fully traced, ensuring sustainable production and benefits for workers and locals.

Given the amount of tyre-saving that’s gone on since 2011 though, would you rather have seen Bridgestone back in the sport?