Pirelli To Remain Formula 1 Tire Supplier Through '19

Pirelli has "formally announced it will remain as Formula 1's tyre supplier" until the end of '19, according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said in October that "he had reached a commercial agreement with the Italian company." But the FIA "only signed its contract with Pirelli recently, after resolving issues to do with the company's responsibilities in F1." The sport is "changing car design significantly next year, including introducing wider tyres." Pirelli was "insisting on a number of in-season testing days to ensure it could properly develop the tyres F1 needed for next season." And after "drivers complained that the current tyres were not to their liking, Pirelli asked the FIA for a 'target letter' defining what was required of it." This letter dictates that tires for '17's faster cars "must allow drivers to push flat out for much of the race, which is not the case at the moment" (BBC, 6/17).