Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

That has come as a complete shock. I wonder if we will see Goodyear back in F1.

“It is with deep regret that Bridgestone Motorsport confirms that at 10.00am (Japan standard time) today, the Bridgestone Corporation announced its decision to not enter into a new tyre supply contract with the FIA Formula One World Championship series. The current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2010 season.

“The decision made by the Board of Directors of Bridgestone comes after considerable and lengthy evaluations and has been based on the company's need to redirect its resources towards the further intensive development of innovative technologies and strategic products.

“While we understand and respect the reasons for this decision, it has nevertheless come as a great disappointment. Bridgestone's relationship with the FIA Formula One World Championship stretches beyond being a tyre supplier. Formula One has been of strategic importance to Bridgestone in developing its technologies, raising the company's brand awareness and providing its strategic business units around the globe with promotional and marketing tools that are intrinsically linked to our company's core products.

“It was a great honour for Bridgestone to be awarded the 2008-2010 contract as Official Tyre Supplier by the Fédération International de L'Automobile (FIA) to the pinnacle of single-seater racing and we would like to thank them for their continued support and for entrusting us with this privileged role which has seen us working at the heart of the Formula One community.

“Our sincere appreciation is also extended to Mr Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management, the Formula One teams with whom it has been an honour to have worked alongside, and the many Formula One fans who have followed our activities over the past 13 years. I would also like to thank the staff of the Bridgestone Motorsport team for their professionalism, dedication and hard work, and for their passion for excellence.

“It remains only to reiterate that Bridgestone continues to be wholly committed to the provision of safe tyres of the highest quality to the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2010 and to the running of its tyre servicing operation at the highest level.”

Source: Bridgestone Motorsport

I remember writing a primitive tyre piece on Bridestone, I bet they knew they couldnt keep up!

The season has ended so expect the trouble to start!

Bridgestone to quit after 2010, mercedes to end their partnership with mclaren (although expect mclaren to keep merc engines for the next couple of years) and the Brawns to be painted silver next season.

Toyota to quit? It will be interesting to see what they do, totally unpredictable and with a nice cheap young star in the offing (Kobayashi) they might decide to stay in on a reduced basis.

The clock is ticking.

lympog:

Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

Unbelievable! So the contenders are…….

Pirelli?

Goodyear?

Michelin ?

Avon ?

And will it be a single tyre supplier and the tyre war back on?

Come on 2011 – Tyres is what win races

 

r1_racing:

lympog:

Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

Unbelievable! So the contenders are…….

Pirelli?

Goodyear?

Michelin ?

Avon ?

And will it be a single tyre supplier and the tyre war back on?

Come on 2011 – Tyres is what win races

 

 

maybe even Kumho.

not sure goodyear would want to go back in, too much of a commitment and an expensive one at that. I'm sure Michelin wouldn't mind but not after the way they where treat by Max which is a shame, they made a far better cross team tyre for racing than Bridgestone have. Can't see a tyre war either, again, constant develoment means constant R&D and spiralling costs. I think it will stay one make

lympog:

Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

I may be wrong on this but I'll wager somebody is being a little greedy......again!

r1_racing:

lympog:

Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

Unbelievable! So the contenders are…….

Pirelli?

Goodyear?

Michelin ?

Avon ?

And will it be a single tyre supplier and the tyre war back on?

Come on 2011 – Tyres is what win races

 

Apparently, after reading Aveli's post about tyres and grip, Raleigh have thrown their hat into the ring and are offering racing bike tyres because they'll cut into the track and provide better grip.....

andy karter:

lympog:

Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

I may be wrong on this but I'll wager somebody is being a little greedy......again!

He looks ten years younger with this round of plastic surgery...

mattw42:

r1_racing:

lympog:

Just saw it on Autosport's twitter - who'd have thought it!!

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/79968

Unbelievable! So the contenders are…….

Pirelli?

Goodyear?

Michelin ?

Avon ?

And will it be a single tyre supplier and the tyre war back on?

Come on 2011 – Tyres is what win races

 

Apparently, after reading Aveli's post about tyres and grip, Raleigh have thrown their hat into the ring and are offering racing bike tyres because they'll cut into the track and provide better grip.....

I think Hattori will bid as well for the contract. Their knives are the best. But Eccelstone might not like kill the bill.

always wondered if teams pay for tires,or are they given a alotment of free tires,anyway another sighn of the economic times,would be cool to see goodyear comeback,see the guys wear goodyear caps on the podium like days of old

i bet its becuase they want to concentrate on their moto gp tyres. they are big in the bike world but tiny in the car market( tyre wise) so making their motogp tyres better suits their business more.

i dont know any cars that come with bridgestone as the standard fitment where as lots of bikes do. oh bikes standard fitment normally means the best for that bike not cheapest

Personally I want MICHELLIN BACK. Renault were ace with Michellin,l so was McLaren. Bring them BACK.

Dont want Goodyear, there dull. Nor Dunlop.

I reckon we should have the old choice of tyre manufacturers back!

gpringsx:

always wondered if teams pay for tires,or are they given a alotment of free tires,anyway another sighn of the economic times,would be cool to see goodyear comeback,see the guys wear goodyear caps on the podium like days of old

You'll probably find that Japanese manufacturers fit Bridgestone or Dunlop tyres as standard. My Mazda 6 came Bridgestone shod. 

Does anybody knw for sure who the new supplier will be?