Formula 1 ’s exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli has competition for next tyre contract despite French company Michelin ruling out a bid to return to the sport, according to FIA president Jean Todt.
Pirelli appear to have a battle on their hands as Hankook are suspected to be the company that will submit a tender to become the next exclusive tyre supplier at the highest level of motorsport
The deadline set by the FIA for the 2020-23 tyre tender contract expired on Friday.
Pirelli is the current sole supplier and any company seeking to replace it faces the added cost of having to design one type of tyre for 2020 and then a new one for the following three years.
The tender document envisages a switch from 13-inch (33.02 cm) wheel rims to 18-inch ones in 2021.
Although unconfirmed, Hankook is known to be interested in Formula 1 and a tender from them is expected to have been submitted, thus they will face-off against the current exclusive tyre supplier Pirelli.
The Korean company - the seventh biggest tyre producer in the world one place behind Pirelli - has over the past decade built a solid reputation for its Hankook Tire brand in racing through backing and partnerships with GT endurance events, DTM and Formula 3.
Todt told reporters ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, “I don’t know the result yet on who has been applying. I know it’s more than one. I knew since a while that Michelin was not going to compete for the tender,” he added when asked about the French company’s position."
Michelin made clear it was not interested in the terms on offer and said in a statement: "The demand for the supply of 13-inch tyres for the 2020 season alone, as well as the deterioration of performance as a part of the show, goes against our principles of efficient resource management and respect for the technology of a sustainable tyre."
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