Pirelli's 500 GPs in The Formula 1 World Championship

"Formula 1 races represent, for us, the most severe tests in that sort of "open-air workshop" embodied by competitions. But they are also much more. Each time, a new tension towards infinity. With the positive energies of the women and men we work with. And with a deep ambition: to always look ahead, to the future. We will never be able to reach infinity. But it shows us a path. And following it, step by step, is our destiny as people. Who, despite all limitations, build our piece of history every day."

"Formula 1 and Pirelli, side by side, have generated a virtuous contamination of knowledge and skills, capable of strengthening a unique ecosystem of its kind, where teams, constructors, partners and institutions collaborate in a common vision. Pirelli's five hundred races in Formula 1 have great significance, they are a symbol of constancy, reliability and technical progress, a true point of reference for our sport."

"In the journey that spans decades, from the first world championship in 1950 to the hybrid era of the present, Pirelli has always been there with the ability to transform rubber into performance, compounds into strategy and competition into entertainment for millions of people around the world. The partnership between Pirelli and the FIA reflects the shared mission of making motorsport safer, more sustainable and innovative thanks to progress and technological excellence."

"Throughout our long history in Formula 1 racing, Pirelli's strength has always been the relationship between the excellence of the products we provide to racing teams and the highly sophisticated blend of skills, passion and emotion that has been the hallmark of our work since the 1950s. This relationship enables us to contribute to the pages of this book by Fondazione Pirelli, with a story based on the interaction between people and technology, the strength of the company's heritage, and our timely understanding of all the innovations that have shaped motorsport competitions over time and always placed us at the forefront."

"The configuration of the track is consistent with that of the road. This standard product has been pushed to its limits by a motorsport champion with a stunning career: twenty-four victories, twenty-nine pole position, thirty-five podiums, and five-time Formula 1 world champion. This further corroborates the established connection between Pirelli, a renowned entity in the realm of high-end sports competitions, and the manufacturing of products that meet industrial standards. These products have been demonstrated to be both suitable for competitive racing and practical for daily use. Indeed, this is a fundamental historical trait of the Milanese-based company, rooted between its first factory in Ponte Seveso and the vast complex of Bicocca. The company's foundations are in the steadfastness of Lombardy's "beautiful and well-made" manufacturing tradition and, at the same time, its international ambitions and vision."

"We have proven how effective a relatively small but entirely committed team can be when they can count on the expertise and support of a large company capable of providing what is needed without moving people away from their areas of accountability. This model ensures flexibility and responsiveness in meeting the needs of all stakeholders. We have taken the same approach that we have with road cars, where we often have to meet the requirements of regulators, car manufacturers and customers, which are often very different."

"Virtualisation systems are our greatest allies, especially when it comes to tyre dynamics. In Formula 1, there are particularly high lateral accelerations, drive torques and aerodynamic downforce. With simulation tools, we can accurately reproduce these phenomena and study them. Recently, we have also been using virtual tools to develop compounds, which must ensure very precise and well-differentiated usage windows. The change is made possible both by the greater computing power of computers and by our ability to create accurate models."

"The production processes and selection of the supply chain for single-seater tyres have long been based on sustainability criteria. Yet, it is on the materials front that we are making great strides. In 2024, we were the first in motorsport, to produce Formula 1 tyre compounds containing natural rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the international organisation that certifies the environmental and social sustainability of rubber plantations."

"In Formula 1, you have to respond very quickly, almost immediately, and never off the cuff. What's more, we have enormous responsibilities, especially when it comes to safety. That's why we've set deadlines and in-house procedures that optimise our responsiveness and accuracy. On the race track, we have a spokesperson for each function and for every type of request and need, both internal and from our stakeholders."

"On the track, speed is regulated and safe. On the road it's a danger. Today, as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy I devote myself to road safety with the same passion that I once brought to winning on the race track. The drive and dedication to reach a goal has never changed. It's simply who I am."

"Reaching 500 Grands Prix as Formula 1's tyre supplier is a remarkable achievement for Pirelli, reflecting decades of innovation, excellence, and commitment to performance. As the sport has progressed, so has Pirelli, adapting to new generations of race cars with precision. The cutting-edge Pirelli tyre that drives forward the F1 Academy car is a testament to its commitment to supporting the next generation of female talent in motorsport."

"Tyres. Wheels. Rims. They drive endlessly around the circuits. They surround, accompany and contain. They race and recount. A story forged by technology, of course, yet amplified by people. Drivers, champions. Lots of them. Rubber. It's a curious material. It absorbs and releases energy, making it bounce. A freedom of movement that we can indulge a little here, to play with the protagonists of this epic. We need a silk thread that everyone can unreel, indulging their personal impressions and passion."

"To get an idea of the impact that Formula 1 has had on the system of radio and television, just think that in 1953, in the experimental phase, the nascent Rai decided to try a first commentary from Monza during the Italian Grand Prix. Clips were broadcast to test the system. So we could say that on that legendary circuit Formula 1 received its television baptism in Italy."

"Formula 1 struck me as intrinsically stuck in the twentieth century and destined, if not to actually disappear, then at least inevitably decline.[…] Well, I was spectacularly wrong. Formula 1 has been able to rethink itself. It is now a best practice case history studied worldwide. It has reattuned itself to today's passions and trends, cut unnecessary expenses and introduced hybrid engines."