I mean, seriously, what if all the other companies avoids F1 for 2011. What possible recourse could the FIA have? Pirelli have already thrown down the glove and said they won't take over supplying tyres. Hmmm...

http://www.f1technical.net/news/13751?sid=...5db99d6fd030146

Flintstone cars. Good for enviroment too!

Minimal grip and lots of sparks I guess.

They'll find someone. Bridgestone is leaving at the end of 2010, not the end of 2009. With the global economy pushing its way out of recession and slowly building up momentum again, tyre companies may be more amenable to supporting Formula One by the time 2011 comes around.

On this list.

I think the teams will most likely have to start paying alot more for the tyre supply to cover the development costs. I'm not sure how the current contracts go but it sounds like the tyre companies get most of their money back from the exposure of supplying F1, not from F1 directly. If the total costs for the tyres over a whole year was around $20m, split between all the teams that wouldnt be all that much in comparison to engine costs for example.

F1 will use Avon maybe as a backup plan? I'm sure someone is willing to take up supply, maybe Michelin or even Goodyear?

Both have said no.

But then, a lot can happen in a year. The automotive industry has taken a big hit in the recession, but if things start getting better - and I do believe they are; the US Economy was reported to be in the black for the first time in two years the other day - they might change their minds.

So what if the big consumer brands say no. F1 will just have to pay to get the tires they want. Money always motivates.

What about Firestone? They supply tyres for Indi racing.

They're owned by Bridgestone.

The teams will start manufacturing their own tyres. They will be able to use any compund they want and get the grip levels they want. Yes its going to happen.

A Korean or Chinese tire manufacturers opportunity begging I think.

That'll be awesome. We're going to see so much difference in the times.

May be MRF from India, lol.

Brilliant! Thanks christoff, that one made me laugh!

Great lateral thinking. After all, are tyres *really* necessary.

Hey! Maybe, they should just use aftermarket tires and rims... a Ferrari with 18" Pirellis and some nice OZ rims... Maybe tirerack could sponser.

I think it was Khumo that announced in 2004 or thereabouts that they planned to enter F1 in 2007. There was an official announcement and everything. After that announcement though, nothing. Not even an investigation from F1 journos asking "WTF has happened to their plans?" To cut a long story short, maybe they would be interested.

Rule Pirelli out... http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/11/04/...terested-in-f1/

How about Hoosier?

If I owned a tire company, I'd be interested - but only if I can make some serious money out of the deal...

They'll be using Mag Lev technology by then.


I reckon the situation would be much brighter by the time Bridgestone leave,meaning we won't see one but two/three tyre manufacturers in F1,and a return of the tyre wars.Remember,Todt's the main man,now,not Mosley: anything can happen.

That's a very plausible option.

Unless the FIA changes rules to include hovercrafts - No sparks required!

Ok in the 1% chance that no manufacturer took a supply deal, what would happen is this.

The FIA would commission a supplier to simply make the seasons supply of tyres and sell the cost of this as a sponsorship opportunity.

So we'd end up with 'Virgin' or whatever on the tyres.

Money talks, am sure Bernie/Todt would have no problem sorting something

My money is on Todt's connection with Michelin who if I remember, left F1 because of the competition driving costs. I think they'd be interested in returning as the sole supplier.

I rather suspect the one supplier thing would have scuppered their plans. Not much point asking after that was there?

Your memory is wrong. They left because they were not interested in a sole supplier F1 and wanted the competition.

F1 will use GP2 tyres. Ferrari has been using GP2 tyres when MS was testing so it can work

I think the sport will find it difficult to find a replacement. I don't believe there will be that many tyre companies who will be willing to supply an entire field and spend $100 million a year.

Doubtless using their "Mates" brand.

They may have problems finding a cheap/free supply, but I'm sure they would find a supplier if they paid the going rate.

They'll fit back the old worn out ones.

I am surprised this hasn't happened. The tires are one of the most important parts in the car. Teams should be allowed to create their own tires to suit their car characteristics. I mean having a spec tire is like having a spec bodywork or spec suspension.

The teams could have done in the past, but it is such a specalised product that I don't see them ever trying to replace the manufacturers.

Forget about a sole supplier; that's the worst part of monopoly-dependence.

Let teams find their own tires as they find their own brakes, own differential, own gearboxes, ....

FIA should just fix a minimum and maximum tire dimensions, surfaces, and the teams should present 3 or 4 tire compunds for approval, before the Championship starts, to be used as they want during the whole year (rain tires apart).

They'll use the stock of old tyres they have. We'll see cars running 2 grooved tyres with 1 slick and 1 intermediate.

Will make for interesting driving.

Facilities of the new 2011 tyre supplier:

Transportation:



Motorhome:

Korea wants a Grand Prix.... the Government there will probably assist in such efforts and having a national company as the official tyre supplier of F1 would make such claims for a right to host a GP.... all the more attractive.

Therefore Kumho is my best guess as to the next F1 Tyre manufacturer.

Thats a nice white coat Lewis is wearing.... clearly he is not in Croydon but getting the lowdown on new tyre options.... the sneaky B.......

http://www.tirerack.com

Why did they leave then? (Not having a pop at you).

I'll tee em' up for you..!

I already said why.

They stated that they did not want to be in F1 as a single supplier, they wanted the competition.

Doh, brain fade on my part.

No one forced Michelin out. Well you could claim that Ferrari forced Michelin out because they vetoed the proposal to install a chicane at US GP 2005 when every other BS team had agreed to it.

Golden opportunity:

Tell the new tire supplier that he can bring only one tyre each weekend and demand these tires to be so rock hard that they don't wear out .
No pit stops for tires needed. (In addition to no stops for fuel needed anymore)
Less costs involved for the tire company, maybe one will take the bite then....

Gee, maybe we can get back to the goold old days, like the one year in which Jim Clark supposedly used the same set of tires an entire year long!
Talk about cost reduction...
Max would love this....

and...

with rock hard tires the grip is so minimal that the cars become quite a bit slower as well.


This might work fella's...

Henri

what will happen? it is obvoius the end will happen. No, No jokez aside, what will hapen is that french midget mr.corruption will assign the job to some factory that is close to him or that will bribe him. ofcourse it will be crap product

Then the teams will be fighting for the tyres, possibly researching the reason why. In the past there was no a year when there was no tyre supplier, so.

It will be interesting to see how the "new" supplier will come up with a suitable and safe tyre with a couple of tests between the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011.
Should be fun ...

they will do what all the other tyre companies have done. They will be loaned a year old f1 car for testing or just buy a chassis and use that.

Good point. With the actual testing limitation, it's gonna be pretty fun to see how ALL teams adapts their designs for 2011 to the new rubber.