Founded in 1872, Pirelli is active in over 160 countries today. The company has 38,000 employees and 22 production sites. Together with Alfa Romeo, Pirelli has won numerous races and launched countless innovations. In 1927, the first sports tire (Superflex Stella Bianca) was introduced. In 1974, the company invented the "Low Profile" tire to achieve better driving performance at high speeds. In 1987, the famous P Zero product line was introduced, representing the ultimate sports tire with an "Ultra Low" profile design. Thanks to its many innovations and outstanding driving performance, Pirelli became the exclusive partner of Formula 1 from 2011 to 2013. The company is increasingly focusing on premium products with the goal of becoming a leader in this segment before 2015. To this end, on September 8, 2011, Pirelli launched the first tire derived from Formula 1—the P Zero Silver—as well as the Cinturato P7 Blue; both were awarded top marks for rolling resistance and wet braking performance. In January 2013, Pirelli confirmed its status as a leader in racing tires and extended its exclusive contract with Formula 1. Pirelli tires remain the benchmark for quality and performance.