As most of you probably know by now, Japanese tire supplier Bridgestone has already confirmed its intentions to quit Formula One at the end of 2010. They have been sole suppliers for the series between 2008 and 2010, after the International Automobile Federation (FIA) rules that only one manufacturer should supply tires to all the Formula One teams.
While initially expected to extend their deal with Formula One at the end of 2010 – given their great collaboration so far – Bridgestone made it very clear that the level of expenditure in the Great Circle has made it virtually impossible for them to continue investing in their F1 programme. According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the Japanese company is currently spending around 55 million euro annually.
Several reports have recently suggested that Korean suppliers Kumho or Hankook were initially interested in taking Bridgestone's place in the series, but that's hardly perceived as an option by Ecclestone.
Additionally, French manufacturer Michelin – who used to be an F1 supplier until the end of 2007 – recently revealed that they would only consider returning to the series if the FIA will change the rules into securing the tires' role in “fuel saving and C02 reductions.”
Under the circumstances, F1 is looking into ways of reducing Bridgestone's annual spending in the series, with the first change being that each driver will be handed 11 sets of tires per event through 2010 (as compared to 14 in 2009). This measure was taken despite the new fuel regulations, which bans refueling during the races, making tire wear a solid issue for the season to come.
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