Pirelli Might Quit Formula One If Test Deal Doesn’t Work Out

Pirelli says that if the plan doesn’t work out soon, they will not have enough time to make safer new tyres for 2017.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Pirelli Motorsport)

Pirelli, the sole tyre supplier for Formula 1, has warned that it could walk away after the current season if the sport fails to ratify tyre testing plans by close of play on Monday.

Pirelli motorsport’s director Paul Hembery was quoted as saying to motorsport.com that there would not be enough time to prepare new, wider tyres planned for 2017 if the governing FIA’s Formula One commission stalled on approving rule changes.

Pirelli won a tender for the 2017-19 contract in October but that has yet to be signed off with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) due to testing issues.

When I land (in Europe after the Chinese Grand Prix), if I don’t have an email confirming it’s approved, or something else positive, then you will be calling me for a different story. This is it. We cannot do our job without this. We cannot deliver. We are being asked to make very significant changes, by changing the driveability of the tyres.

Paul Hembery, Director, Pirelli Motorsport

Hembery and the FIA were not immediately available for comment.