Although it hasn't had and probably won't ever have a driver in Formula 1, Romania manages, paradoxically, to be present at every Grand Prix, thanks to an essential element without which no car could start: the tires. These are “made in Romania”, thanks to the Pirelli factory in Slatina.
Formula 1 single-seaters, equipped with tires produced in Romania. Profimedia photo
For many years the idea has been circulating that “all Formula 1 tires are produced in Romania”. A spectacular statement that fueled national pride and was widely shared online. Let's see if this reason for satisfaction is 100% true or the reality is more nuanced.
The Italian giant Pirelli, the sole supplier of tires for Formula 1, has invested heavily in our country, developing one of the group's most modern facilities in Slatina. In this factory, tires are produced for all motorsport, including Formula 1.
The Pirelli factory in Slatina has 4,500 employees. The Truth photo
50,000 Formula 1 tires produced in Slatina in one season
Yesterday, the mayor of Slatina, Mario de Mezzo, declared in a podcast that all the tires used in the Grand Circus – racing, training and testing – are made in the city he shepherds. In addition, factory representatives stated that in one season, 50,000 tires leave Slatina for F1 teams.
In 2023, Pirelli renewed its agreement as global tire supplier for Formula 1, a partnership valid until 2027
In the absence of very clear public details about the exact place where each type of tire is made, the data collected from this industry shows that Romania is not the “absolute center” of production for the Great Circ. There is also a large factory for Formula 1 tires in Izmir, Turkey, and some sources indicate that they are also produced in Italy.
The tires are transported from the factory to the recipients under strict conditions, at constant temperatures of 25 degrees
It is certain that Romania's importance in F1 has grown constantly and that the Slatina factory produces tires that reach, directly or indirectly, all stages of the world championship, being part of Pirelli's global supply chain. As a conclusion, Romania produces motorsport tires, including for top competitions, contributes to the production of tires used in Formula 1 and hosts in Slatina one of the most advanced factories of Pirelli.
“Invisible” Romanians in Formula 1
Romania's contribution to F1 does not stop only at tires. Several companies in the country are directly or indirectly involved in the Grand Circus: Bitdefender is a technology partner and sponsor for Formula 1 teams, RebelDot is an IT company involved in digital developments for the teams, while Allengra, based in Oradea, is the official supplier of flowmeters (high-precision devices that dose the fuel) used in all the cars present in the competition.
Technical data of tires used in Formula 1
Formula 1 tires are high-tech components, exclusively supplied by Pirelli (until 2027), with an extremely short lifespan, designed for maximum performance, not endurance. From 2022, 18-inch wheels are used, with widths of 305 mm at the front and 405 mm at the rear.
Sole Supplier:
Pirelli is the sole manufacturer.
Structure: 18 inches: The move to 18 inches reduced overheating and improved handling over the old 13 inch tires.
Tire types: Slicks (Dry): Hard (white), Medium (yellow), Soft (red) – 3 compositions are chosen for each Grand Prix. Wet:
Intermediate (green) for light rain and Full Wet (blue) for torrential rain.
Performance and Wear:
Unlike street tires, they are optimized for maximum grip at high temperatures and have a lifetime limited to a fraction of a stroke.
Management:
The teams do not own the tires; these are returned to Pirelli after each race weekend for analysis and security.
