Hankook is leaving Formula E

Hankook Tire, which has been the sole supplier of tires for Formula E since the 2022-2023 season, replacing Michelin in this position, will leave the championship after the next season, as it lost the tender, which, according to the words of the director of motorsport of the European branch of the company, Manfred Sandbichler, was a "real shock".

After Hankook joined FE, the company faced serious technical challenges, as electric cars of the third generation began to be used, which have increased power and weight, and therefore required tires that could work effectively under increased loads. In the previous season, when cars of the Gen3 Evo type with plug-in all-wheel drive appeared, even higher requirements were imposed on Hankook tires and, in particular, on the composition of the rubber mixture, and the company coped with its tasks, since its tires did not fail once during the entire season. At the same time, although Hankook intended to continue supplies for cars of the fourth generation, the tender was lost, and the company will give way to the Japanese Bridgestone.

"As you can understand, the idea was to stay in the series for a long time - that's why we participated in the tender," Sandbichler told RacingNews365. "Unfortunately, we lost it, which was also possible. No one is happy with this decision and its consequences. At first, it was a real shock for us. But then we held an internal meeting, where we discussed all the pros and cons and said to ourselves: 'Yes, we lost, but that's life. You can't always win.' But we have a four-year contract, and we will fulfill all our obligations until the last minute, until the final race in London. And then we will shake hands and say goodbye."