Pirelli's U.S. market crisis: how Chinese ownership could reshape Formula 1's tire supply

Pirelli, the exclusive tire supplier for Formula 1 since 2011, is confronting an unprecedented regulatory challenge that could fundamentally reshape its business model and, by extension, the sport's supply chain. The Italian manufacturer faces potential partial or complete exclusion from the lucrative American market—one of its most profitable regions—due to incoming U.S. regulations targeting connected-vehicle technologies linked to Chinese ownership. With a compliance deadline looming in mid-March 2026, the situation has escalated from a commercial concern to a geopolitical flashpoint.

Chinese ownership and the cyber tyre dilemma

At the core of this crisis lies Pirelli's capital structure. Sinochem Holdings, a state-owned Chinese entity, controls 37% of Pirelli—a stake that has triggered alarm bells in Washington. The upcoming U.S. regulations, set to take effect as early as March 2026, explicitly restrict hardware and software for connected vehicles originating from China or Russia on national security grounds.

Pirelli's cutting-edge "Cyber Tyre" technology—which embeds sensors to transmit real-time data on pressure, temperature, and wear—sits squarely in the regulatory crosshairs. If American authorities deem Chinese influence significant over Pirelli's operations, these advanced tires could face outright bans from U.S. sales and imports, crippling the manufacturer's aftermarket and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) business in America.

The implications are staggering. Pirelli has already frozen U.S. expansion plans since April 2025, with executives, including Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera, publicly acknowledging how Sinochem's stake has hindered growth ambitions in the critical North American market.

The Italian government's intervention

Recognizing the stakes, Italy's government—led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—has mobilized to protect the strategic asset. The country is actively negotiating with Pirelli and shareholders to curtail Chinese influence. Reported options include reducing Sinochem's stake to 10%, freezing its voting rights, or orchestrating a complete exit for the Chinese investor.

These discussions intensified in early January 2026, with negotiations taking on added urgency as the mid-March compliance deadline approaches. This isn't Italy's first such intervention; the government previously invoked "golden power" regulations in 2023 and 2025 to limit Sinochem's control over sensitive technologies. In April 2025, Pirelli's board formally declared the company no longer under Chinese control—a declaration that now faces scrutiny from U.S. authorities.

Implications for Formula 1: a lurking vulnerability

While these restrictions ostensibly target road-car technologies, the potential fallout carries troubling implications for Formula 1. As the championship experiences unprecedented growth in North America—with sold-out races in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas—the sport depends entirely on Pirelli for tire supply through 2027.

The good news: standard racing compounds do not incorporate the same connected sensors as Cyber Tires, meaning F1's tire specifications shouldn't face direct regulatory restrictions. However, a severe market lockout could indirectly destabilize Pirelli's finances, complicating supply chains, increasing costs, or forcing the manufacturer to reconsider its F1 commitment—a scenario neither the sport nor F1 ownership would welcome.

Pirelli's 2026 tire strategy already represents a significant undertaking. The manufacturer has redesigned its entire tire range with smaller dimensions suited to the new generation of cars, with the Barcelona test scheduled for January 26-30 marking the first track session using the new specifications. Any disruption to Pirelli's operational capacity could jeopardize this transition during a critical regulatory shift.

The road ahead: uncertainty looms

Neither Pirelli nor Formula 1 has issued official statements directly addressing motorsports risks stemming from this geopolitical standoff. However, ongoing negotiations between the Italian government, Pirelli, and Sinochem will likely conclude well before the mid-March deadline, with some form of Chinese stake reduction appearing the most probable outcome.

For now, Formula 1 fans can take modest reassurance: the sport's tire supply appears insulated from immediate regulatory harm. Yet this episode starkly illustrates how global trade frictions increasingly permeate even specialized industries like motorsport, where supply chain resilience and ownership transparency have become as strategically important as tire compound selection.