The History Of Tyres In Formula One

Tyres have played a massive part in the history of Formula 1, and have undergone significant changes throughout the history of the sport, with different manufacturers and specifications used throughout. With Pirelli replacing Bridgestone as the sole supplier for 2011, here’s a look at the history of tyres and the part they have played throughout the sport.

The Early Years (1950-1965)

There were numerous suppliers for Formula One's debut season, including a Belgian tyre company Engelbert, Pirelli, Dunlop and Firestone, with Continental and Avon both stepping in from 1954. It was very much Pirelli who dominated the early years though, and from 1950 to 1957, Pirelli had 41 Grand Prix wins, compared to Continental’s 10, Firestone’s 8 and Englebert’s 6.

However when Dunlop scored their debut Grand Prix win in 1958, there was no stopping the British company, and they won every single race on the Formula One calendar from 1961-1964, as Englebert, Pirelli, Continental and Avon disappeared from the scene. In 1965 Dunlop won nine out of the ten races in the season, but the one other race was won by Goodyear – their first ever GP victory. It didn’t seem like it at the time, but the balance of power in the Formula One tyre world was about to shift.

Goodyear Domination (1966-1998)

From 1966 to 1972 the Grand Prix wins were split between Dunlop, Firestone and Goodyear, with Dunlop winning 13 before withdrawing in 1970. Firestone won 38, with Goodyear amazing 28 wins throughout this six year period. However, from this point onwards Goodyear completely dominated, winning every single race up until 1977; the same year Michelin entered the sport.

Michelin provided the only competition to Goodyear, and won 59 Grands Prix until they quit abruptly in 1984. Goodyear continued to be the leaders in tyre technology though, and won every race between 1989 and 1997 with the exception of three Grands Prix. Bridgestone returned to Formula One in 1997 after a previous short spell.

Goodyear left Formula One at the end of 1998 after 45 years at the peak of motorsport, and an incredibly successful one at that, having won at least one race every year since 1965, and amassed 368 Grand Prix victories.

Bridgestone/Michelin Rivalry (1999-2006)

Between 1998 and 2008, regulations required the tyres to feature a minimum of four grooves in them, with the intention of slowing the cars down, and it would be these grooved tyres between this period that Bridgestone and Michelin will be remembered for in Formula One.

Bridgestone were the sole tyre supplier in Formula One until 2001, when Michelin returned, and a bitter rivalry was stoked. It took until 2005 before the French manufacturer were able to match the Bridgestones and took their first drivers’ and constructors’ title since their return, courtesy of Fernando Alonso and the Renault team.

They achieved this feat despite the debacle that was the 2005 United States Grand Prix, in which every car Michelin supplied failed to start the race due to a safety failure on their tyres. On Friday, 17 June 2005, during the afternoon’s practice session, Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher crashed heavily in Turn 13 of the Indianapolis circuit as a result of a left-rear tyre failure. Michelin announced that its tyres were unsafe for use around this circuit, and said that they would fly in spares from its French base for the cars to compete the next day.

However the replacement tyres turned out to have the same problem, and no cars running Michelins made the start line. Well, technically they did. At the start of the race, all the cars lined up on the grid per FIA race procedure. As Charlie Whiting signaled the green light to start the formation lap, a full field of twenty cars set off as normal for a single lap before forming the starting grid. At the banked Turn 13, the entrance to the pit lane (and the turn that was the center of the controversy), all teams that ran Michelin tyres returned to their pits, leaving just six cars from the three Bridgestone teams (Ferrari, Jordan, and Minardi) to start the race. Only six cars made the chequered flag. It was a disaster; Michelin’s share price fell by 2.5%, and the company committed to refunding the price of all tickets for the race.

The events of the 2005 United States Grand Prix caused a massive divide between Michelin and the FIA, and one that was never to recover. In December 2005, and as a result of the difficult relationship with the sport’s governing body, Michelin announced that it would not extend its involvement in Formula One beyond the 2006 season. They bowed out with a metaphorical two-finger salute at the FIA, winning the drivers’ and constructors’ titles for the second time in a row, again with Renault and Fernando Alonso.

The End Of The Bridgestone Era (2007 – Present)

Bridgestone were sole suppliers of tyres for Formula One from 2007 onwards, and slick tyres were re-introduced for the 2009 Formula One season as part of moves to increase the emphasis on mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip. However the Japanese manufacturer announced that they would withdraw from the sport following the 2010 season on the 2nd November 2009. After 14 years, 242 races, 175 Grand Prix wins and 700,000 tyres, the end of the Bridgestone era came with Sebastian Vettel’s dramatic last gasp title win in Abu Dhabi.

On June 23rd 2010, it was announced that Pirelli would take the helm as F1's sole tyre supplier from 2011 until 2013 – the first time the Italian manufacturer would be involved in Formula 1 since 1991.

Let's see what happens next!