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A decision was made by the FIA to move to a single tyre supplier in order to to stop the escalating costs incurred by the tyre manufacturers in order to be competitive. Since it was introduced, the contract to supply has always gone out to tender, and so far, only Pirelli has both met the criteria and agreed to manufacture and supply the tyres to the teams.
And they do so now on a strictly commercial basis, and charge each team for the supply of tyres, unlike previously when some teams received their supply for free or were paid fees to test the tyres. Which led, for example, to Ferrari pounding around their circuits on an almost daily basis in a development race to produce better rubber.
As far as I am aware, Mr E was never directly involved (if at all) in the tyre contract negotiations; they were strictly between the FIA and the tyre manufacturers.
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