Michelin considers bid to supply F1 tires in 2014

ERJ staff report (AW)

Detroit – Groupe Michelin has expressed an interest in returning to Formula One racing, Adam Cooper of Crain News Service has reported, citing sources close to the FIA.

While it's long been assumed that Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. will remain the sole supplier in 2014, and has made commercial arrangements with both teams and F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, the bottom line is that it has not yet signed a deal with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), sources told Autoweek magazine, a sister publication of European Rubber Journal.

Nor has the FIA yet issued an official tender for the supply contract, which it would normally be expected to do.

In 2010 the principals of the Formula 1 team owners were weighing bids by Michelin and Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. to be the series' tire supplier for the 2011 season and beyond before eventually settling on Pirelli.

It's believed that Michelin's formal interest would trigger a tender, and that the FIA will go through the motions of asking all possible suppliers if they are interested before considering the offers from those who are.

It goes without saying that recent events have weakened Pirelli's position with the FIA, and upset teams as well—some of whom may be keen to see a change. They are also still frustrated about having to pay for the annual supply.

It remains to be seen whether Michelin could really be ready in time for 2014, and the other key issue is that Mr. Ecclestone is close to Pirelli and is more than happy with the lucrative commercial deal that he has with the Italian tire maker. Meanwhile it's no secret that FIA president Jean Todt is close to Michelin.

There are some other key issues, not the least is the fact that Michelin always said it preferred competition and ultimately wants to go to low-profile tires, as are used in other forms of top-level sport. The FIA's informal position on that is that current F1 tires are unique and there is no point in switching just for the sake of it when there are technical compromises involved. Wheels would also be heavier and potentially more lethal in accidents.

Meanwhile, Pirelli is pushing for a change of rear tire sizes for 2014 as it continues to learn more from the teams about the new car/engine packages, in terms of the expected downforce levels and the loads put through the tires.

In essence, Pirelli wants a bigger contact patch, which could be achieved by a combination of diameter and width increases. The former, however, would involve significant design changes for the teams, and even at this stage would delay their 2014 projects. An increased width—the figure 20 mm has been discussed – is a little more realistic.

The problem is that the technical regulations have been defined already and the FIA is reluctant to agree to a change.