Pirelli to make tyre offer to F1 teams

London: Pirelli will offer to supply tyres to all Formula One teams from next season, the Italian company said, but conditions could be attached to any deal.

Formula One needs to find a new tyre supplier after Japanese company Bridgestone said it would be pulling out at the end of this season after 14 years in the sport. Bridgestone has been the sole supplier since 2007, after competing against Goodyear in 1997 and 1998 and Michelin from 2001 to 2006. Michelin and American-based tyre manufacturer Cooper have already emerged as possible suppliers for next season with Pirelli now entering the fray having sounded cautious about the idea just a week ago."Pirelli announces that it will present...an offer for the supply of tyres to all the teams in the F1 championship," it said in a statement. "The presentation of the offer will take place before the next Formula One Grand Prix in Spain on May 9." A spokeswoman added that the offer was for next season but said no further details could be disclosed. Only last week Pirelli officials were quoted in Italian media saying certain conditions would have to be met if the firm, which already supplies tyres to several other motorsport series, returned to F1 for the first time since 1991.Conditions included increasing the size of tyres to 18 inches (45.72 centimetres) from 13 (33.02 cm) and a wish for teams to contribute financially to the supply deal. A possible return had previously only been mooted from 2012 while president Marco Tronchetti Provera told reporters last week that there could be reasons "to look at this area with greater attention" but for the moment "there is still nothing". Bureau Report