Bridgestone rejected the possibility of returning to Formula 1

Bridgestone will not return to Formula 1 as a tire supplier, said Robin Shaw, Bridgestone's Europe manager, in an interview with City AM

“In the near future, we are not yet ready to take a step forward and return to Formula 1. We are currently focusing all our energy and time on the Olympics,” Shaw explained.

At the beginning of March, representatives of the tire manufacturer Bridgestone stated that by the end of 2024 they will financially and otherwise support all the Olympic Games, both summer and winter. The reason for such a decision, according to their statements, was the opinion that their tires were not attractive enough, and so they came to the conclusion that it was better to support the Olympic Games than to go back to Formula 1.

Probably the reason for this decision is also in the fact that they left Formula 1, as they themselves admitted that they are not able to provide better tires. "We acknowledge that we are still not able to provide better quality and thus meet the requirements of Formula 1, which wants the highest quality tires to then bring them to endurance limits. In the end, it is our responsibility if the tire bursts, ”added Shaw.

Bridgestone last supplied tires between 1997 and 2010, and even then, the reason for the withdrawal was the growing demands for development and innovation that could no longer match them. Still, there are other suppliers for the Super Formula in Japan, which is considered a breeding ground for new racers. “Marketing is the key to success, so the decision to go to the Olympics prevailed,” Shaw explained.

Bridgestone thus bets everything on the Olympics. “Personally, I am a Formula 1 fan and I like to watch races. Personally, I am also happier that we are investing in the Olympic Games and not in Formula 1, "Shaw concluded.