Pirelli sure it will be F1's tyre supplier for next five years

A statement issued after last week's World Motor Sport Council hearing alluded to Pirelli fulfilling the commercial deal it had in place with Bernie Ecclestone until a new tender process was introduced.

The vague wording of that press release led some to suggest that Pirelli would only be guaranteed one season more.

However, speaking ahead of the Korean Grand Prix, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said his company was expecting to be in F1 until at least the end of 2018.

"It will be for five years," he said. "The only reason why some of the comments are a bit vague is that it has fallen between the two agreements of the FIA and FOM, so the role has changed slightly within that."

Hembery confirmed that a contract had not yet been signed with the FIA, but said even when his company returned to F1 in 2011 the paperwork was not concluded until the even of the season.

"When we came into the sport it wasn't signed until February of the year in which we started racing," he said.

"There are meetings going on. But it was the first year - but when you have lots of groups involved with lots of lawyers it takes time."