Current Formula One tire provider, Bridgestone, will enjoy its final year in the sport in 2010.
The tire supplier's Director of Motorsport, Hiroshi Yasukawa, released a statement about the decision, Nov. 2.
"It is with deep regret that Bridgestone Motorsport confirms that at 10:00 a.m. (Japan standard time) today, the Bridgestone Corporation announced its decision to not enter into a new tire supply contract with the FIA Formula One World Championship series. The current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2010 season.
"The decision made by the Board of Directors of Bridgestone comes after considerable and lengthy evaluations and has been based on the company's need to redirect its resources towards the further intensive development of innovative technologies and strategic products.
"While we understand and respect the reasons for this decision, it has nevertheless come as a great disappointment. Bridgestone's relationship with the FIA Formula One World Championship stretches beyond being a tire supplier. Formula One has been of strategic importance to Bridgestone in developing its technologies, raising the company's brand awareness and providing its strategic business units around the globe with promotional and marketing tools that are intrinsically linked to our company's core products.
"It was a great honor for Bridgestone to be awarded the 2008-2010 contract as Official Tire Supplier by the Federation International de L'Automobile (FIA) to the pinnacle of single-seater racing and we would like to thank them for their continued support and for entrusting us with this privileged role which has seen us working at the heart of the Formula One community.
"Our sincere appreciation is also extended to Mr Bernie Ecclestone and Formula One Management, the Formula One teams with whom it has been an honor to have worked alongside, and the many Formula One fans who have followed our activities over the past 13 years. I would also like to thank the staff of the Bridgestone Motorsport team for their professionalism, dedication and hard work, and for their passion for excellence.
"It remains only to reiterate that Bridgestone continues to be wholly committed to the provision of safe tires of the highest quality to the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2010 and to the running of its tire servicing operation at the highest level."
