Ecclestone has revealed that Pirelli "has a contract" beyond 2013

Amid the 'test-gate' storm and uncertainty about the future, Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Pirelli "has a contract" beyond 2013.

Until now, with the Italian marque pushing hard for a new deal but at the same time expressing frustration with its situation in F1, it was thought Pirelli had no contract beyond its original three-year deal covering 2011-2012-2013.

But when asked on Thursday about Pirelli's situation, chief executive Ecclestone told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt,: "We have got a contract with Pirelli for next year."

Presumably, Ecclestone was referring to the organisation he leads, Formula One Management, who control the sport's commercial rights separate to the governing FIA.

Ecclestone added: "Pirelli haven't got an agreement with the FIA (for 2014)."

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Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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