Pirelli boss wishes he’d seen Ferrari win an F1 championship before he left

Follow us on Google Discover

Pirelli’s departing boss Mario Isola says one of his main regrets from his time in F1 is that he never saw Ferrari win the championship.

It was announced in February that Isola would be stepping down from his post, with Dario Marrafuschi replacing him. The Miami GP was the Italian’s last race.

Pirelli have been F1’s sole tyre supplier since the start of the 2011 season. Paul Hembery was in charge for the first six years before Isola took over.

Mario Isola: ‘It’s a shame I haven’t seen Ferrari win a title’

Reflecting on his time in F1, Isola admits that he hoped to see Ferrari win a title up close. The Scuderia haven’t lifted either trophy since 2008, when Bridgestone was the tyre manufacturer.

Isola naturally had to remain neutral given that Pirelli supply the entire grid, but as an Italian, he’s cheering Ferrari on.

Can Ferrari still win an F1 title in 2026?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“It’s a shame I haven’t been able to see Ferrari win a title,” he said, via Motorsport. “I hope that happens in the future.”

Sebastian Vettel briefly threatened to challenge the Lewis Hamilton/Mercedes dynasty in 2017/18, while Charles Leclerc built a commanding lead at the start of the 2022 season, only to squander it to Max Verstappen.

Mercedes have been the most successful team since Pirelli, based in Milan, took over from Bridgestone. They have won eight titles in this period compared to six for Red Bull.

Mario Isola welcomes ‘beautiful’ Kimi Antonelli emergence

While Ferrari, effectively Italy’s national team, may not have met expectations, the country now has a rising star on its hands in Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli is the youngest championship leader ever – he is now 20 points clear of George Russell – and is also the first driver in history to convert his first three pole positions into wins.

• READ MORE: F1 paddock figures felt Toto Wolff ‘goofed spectacularly’ by signing Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes

Italy hasn’t had a world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, but given Mercedes’ superiority at the start of the new regulations, Antonelli has a wonderful opportunity to end that drought this year.

Asked about hearing the Italian anthem on the podium at his final few races, Isola said: “It’s beautiful, and I hope it gets even better in the upcoming races,”