With a wealth of driving experience behind him, Mario Isola understands what it takes both to produce a tyre that will get good results on track, and how to drive to get the best out of it. Currently working in the F1 paddock as Pirelli’s motorsport manager, Isola also oversees operations in the junior single seater series’ as well.

Biography

Mario started his motorsport career as a driver, competing in karting events and series from a young age. He drove alongside some significant names but didn’t go much further himself. Whilst at a job interview for Pirelli, Isola let slip that he’d done some competitive driving previously, and the company took him on board as a test driver.

He started out on the road car side, working for the research and development department, before moving across to motorsport – which he says had always been his aim. He initially helped design tyres for the FIA’s GT Championship in 2003, before managing the Pirelli operation within the series. They secured the championship in 2005, after which Isola moved to rallying.

In 2011, Isola became Racing Manager for Pirelli’s single seater operations, including F1 as well as GP2 and GP3. When Paul Hembery took a step back from the day-to-day running of the Formula One operation, Isola was drafted in to take a more active role in the paddock.