The following was reported by Steven English on autosport.com Nov. 2, 2009.
Bridgestone will withdraw from Formula 1 at the end of the 2010 season.
The Japanese tyre manufacturer announced its decision not to renew its F1 contract early on Monday morning.
Bridgestone Motorsport director Hiroshi Yasukawa said in a statement: "The decision made by the board of directors comes after considerable and lengthy evaluations and has been based on the company's need to redirect its resources towards further intensive development of innovative technologies."
Bridgestone had been a tyre supplier in Formula 1 since 1997 and had been the sole supplier since the beginning of the 2007 season, following Michelin's departure, winning 156 of the 223 Grand Prix it entered.
