Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone have expressed how “delighted” they are to have been approved as Formula E’s tyre supplier from the 2026/27 season, with Wednesday’s announcement falling at the same time as the company celebrating their 60th anniversary in motorsport.
For the first time since departing Formula 1 at the end of the 2010 season, Bridgestone will return to a single-seater World Championship in 2026, after the FIA approved their application to be Formula E’s sole tyre supplier for Gen4. It means that Hankook will leave the all-electric series after three more seasons.
Bridgestone’s Formula E approval comes not long after their application to become F1’s tyre supplier was unsuccessful, as Pirelli were offered a new deal.
The announcement was made at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Baku, Azerbaijan, with Bridgestone’s deal lasting from the start of the 2026/27 season (season 13), to the end of the 2029/30 campaign (season 16).
Through arrangements with the FIA, Bridgestone will continue to work on developing sustainable technology, as part of their push to be at the forefront of targeting a more sustainable future through their products and their sustainable global motorsports initiatives.
For Formula E, Bridgestone are set to produce two compounds, marking the first time in the all-electric championship’s history that two compounds have been available.
The most used compound will be the ‘baseline’ rubber, which’ll be a grooved all-weather tyre that “must guarantee sufficient grip to ensure safe racing in light rain”. A ‘typhoon’ rubber will also be produced by Bridgestone and will be “mandatory in heavy rain”.
Bridgestone are extremely pleased to be returning to an FIA World Championship as it continues the company’s “60-year legacy in motorsports”, with the manufacturer “looking forward” to getting started.
“Motorsports is Bridgestone’s passion. Always has been, and always will be. I am delighted to be able to announce our return to an FIA World Championship this year as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our motorsports activities,” said Shu Ishibashi, Global CEO and Representative Executive Officer, Bridgestone Corporation.
“Carrying on our 60-year legacy in motorsports, we are very excited about being the FIA’s sole tyre supplier for Formula E from the 2026-2027 season.
“Sharing the passion to race and passion to win, Bridgestone has empowered the best performance of cars, drivers and teams in racing conditions by repeatedly taking on the ultimate challenges while ensuring safety and peace of mind based on our fundamental principle ‘tyres carry life.’
“This ‘ultimate challenge,’ as we call ‘challenge for excellence,’ is our origin as a tyre manufacturer and shaped the foundation of our premium tyre business. As we face our next stage, Bridgestone aims to evolve sustainable global premium motorsports products with our enduring passion to embrace the ultimate challenge and to pursue excellence in every moment.
“The core of our supply arrangement with the FIA will be the expansion and enhancement of ‘ENLITEN®’ tyre product technology, enabling ‘ultimate customization’ that we define our ‘new premium in the EV era.’ I am looking forward to starting our activities in the Formula E from the 2026–2027 season.”
Discussion about this post