Pirelli CEO happy with F1 present and future

Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera said he is happy the Italian company is still involved in an ever more competitive formula one.

The Milan-based multinational has finally had its new 2017-2019 contract as F1’s sole tyre supplier rubber-stamped.

"For us, it is a double success," Tronchetti Provera is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Firstly for the image of the Pirelli brand and also for our technology, because we have answered all the challenges that have been proposed."

The next challenge is to help F1 speed up in 2017 with wider, bigger, grippier tyres.

"Next year, the new cars will be 4 to 5 seconds faster and the tyres will contribute 2.5 seconds, demonstrating how important they are," said the Pirelli boss.

But Tronchetti Provera said he is also happy with how the 2016 championship is shaping up.

"One surprise this season has been the competitive return of Red Bull," he noted, "with Renault making progress with the engines.

"Ferrari is there and only lacking a small piece that we hope they can find in the shortest possible time," Tronchetti Provera added.