Now, here is a fascinating twist in the paddock politics: Bridgestone is reportedly pushing to secure a surprise comeback to supply Formula 1 with tyres, as Crash.net reports. The Japanese manufacturer has not supplied the world championship since 2010, yet its officials have been spotted present at several grands prix in recent months, including the races in Singapore and the United States.
That said, any potential return is not happening tomorrow. Italian manufacturer Pirelli has been the exclusive tyre supplier to F1 since 2011 and holds a contract running through until at least the end of the 2028 season. In June this year, F1’s governing body the FIA exercised an option to extend this current supply deal through to the end of 2028, meaning 2029 would be the earliest another tyre manufacturer could win the tender.
Pirelli's footprint across the motorsport ladder is massive, as they also supply tyres for support championships Formula 2, Formula 3, and F1 Academy. On top of that, Pirelli is set to become the single tyre supplier for MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and MotoE starting in 2027. Bridgestone, meanwhile, has its own major single-seater commitments lined up, taking over as the official tyre supplier for the Formula E world championship starting from the upcoming 2026/27 season.
History shows that ambition to dethrone the current supplier is nothing new. Michelin previously vied unsuccessfully for the tender from 2017. Of course, Bridgestone famously competed in an F1 tyre war with Michelin between 1997 and 2006, before taking over as the exclusive tyre supplier from 2007 for four seasons.
F1 drivers have frequently criticised Pirelli’s tyres over the years for various issues. Among them, the company’s full-wet tyres have often borne the brunt of the biggest complaints in recent times. Whether those murmurs open the door for Bridgestone's grand return in 2029 remains to be seen, but the Japanese giant is clearly positioning itself for a fight.
