F1 News

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Pirelli will succeed Bridgestone as Formula 1’s tyre supplier on a three-year deal from next season, the FIA has announced.

Following weeks of discussions between the teams, the governing body and Formula One Management over which tyre company would be chosen to replace the departing Japanese manufacturer, the FIA confirmed on Wednesday that Pirelli had seen off competition from Michelin and Cooper Avon and been awarded the sole tyre supplier deal for the 2011-2013 seasons.

The Italian firm will replace Bridgestone from the end of the season after the Japanese manufacturer announced its intention late last year to pull out of the sport at the end of its existing deal.

“Pirelli has been selected as the single tyre supplier for the FIA Formula One World Championship for a period of three years, commencing in 2011,” an FIA statement read,
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Formula 1’s ongoing attempts to improve overtaking will see adjustable rear wings introduced onto cars from 2011.

Although teams had already agreed to dispense with F-ducts for 2011 as a way of stalling the rear wing for improved straight line speeds and passing opportunities, the Formula One Teams’ Association has been working on other ways of increasing overtaking.

McLaren’s engineering director Paddy Lowe, who also sits on the FOTA technical working group, revealed in a media phone-in on Wednesday that those evaluations had resulted in squads agreeing to a new direction on moveable wings from next season.

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The FIA has announced that the 107% qualifying rule will be reintroduced next year after an eight-season absence.

The 107% rule was in place between 1996-2002 as a way of ensuring cars which were significantly off the pace were barred from taking part in the race, with drivers needing to set a qualifying time which was within 107% of the polesitter’s

It was scrapped from the start of the 2003 season when single-lap qualifying was introduced but there had been suggestions earlier this year that it could be reinstated as early as this season amid initial concerns over the pace of F1’s three new teams.

With another brand new entrant likely to join the grid in time for 2011, the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council took the decision at its latest meeting on Wednesday to reinsert the 107% regulation back into next year’s sporting regulations in relation to Q1.

“From 2011, any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107% of the fastest Q1 qualifying time will not be allowed to take part in the race,” an FIA statement read.