Hankook could be in the running to replace Pirelli from 2014

For three seasons now, Pirelli has been the sole manufacturer in the Formula 1 World Championship, succeeding Bridgestone. Having generally met the requirements set for them, the Milan-based company is hoping for an extension of their contract, which expires at the end of the current season. However, this extension is slow to come, which recently caused impatience for Paul Hembery, director of Pirelli Motorsport: “We cannot remain in such a situation of uncertainty,” the Briton told the columns of the *Gazetta dello Sport*.

Indeed, as long as its future in Formula 1 is not assured, Pirelli cannot begin the development process for the 2014 tires, a vast undertaking since the implementation of a completely new technical regulation, notably introducing a V6 Turbo engine, multiplies the unknowns and challenges for the Milan-based company.

From then on, as the Italian tires are subject to certain criticisms about their extreme degradation, this uncertainty leaves the door open to potential contenders for Pirelli’s succession, with Italiaracing indicating that the Korean manufacturer Hankook is the number one favorite to take Pirelli’s place in supplying tires for the Formula 1 World Championship. The Italian site also claims that Bernie Ecclestone and the leaders of the Korean manufacturer have been in contact.

Official supplier of the DTM championship as well as the Formula 3 Euroseries, Hankook was already displaying its ambition for Formula 1: « In the future, we want to have a very strong market share in this segment. It is quite profitable, but to really benefit from motorsport competition, you must participate either in the World Rally Championship or at a very high level at Le Mans or in Formula 1. So, in the future, this is the goal we have set for ourselves. It will cost a lot of money, a lot of development expenses, a lot of investments, » confided Hyan Bum Cho, executive vice-president of the leading Korean manufacturer, to the Sydney Morning Herald.

On this occasion, he confirmed that Hankook was among the contenders during the call for applications launched by the FIA, in /f1/actualite/9768-cest-officiel-Pirelli-decide-de-revenir-en-f1.html, to replace Bridgestone: « I spoke with Mr. Ecclestone in person, but we decided not to proceed further with our plans. He needed a manufacturer very, very quickly, and we were not ready. But we had good discussions, and maybe we will have our chance next time or even later. » However, it remains to be seen if, with the challenges already awaiting it for 2014, Formula 1 will be ready to dive into the unknown with a new tire manufacturer.