Michelin close to Formula 1 return

As far as I am aware, Michelin will ONLY return if there are other manufacturers to compete with. The only reason they left is they had no interest in being the single supplier. They want to be in competition with other companies.

It will be lots of suppliers or nothing. In my opinion, 15" rims and 3 or more supplier would be fantastic!
 
However, despite the teams being keen on the Michelin plans - which will include a switch to 18-inch wheels – sources claim that Bernie Ecclestone is not in favour of such a move
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guess that isnt going to happen anymore then they should let the teams decide bernie has to much control and he seems very corrupt i wouldnt trust that slimy snake to not take backhanders
 
18" isnt the plan at all. It never was, it never will be.

Its a typical F1 tactic. Aim high, and eventually get the compromise you wanted. Just like the £40m budget cap. That was set way to low to spur people to talk, and they got the middle ground of an agreement on cost cutting that they wanted.

18" is way to big, everyone knows it, but what it does is start people talking about compromises and middle grounds. 15" is in use elsewhere so has some proven success. 15" is the way to go, and I expect tis what Michelin would be happy to take.
 
I presume the actual diameter of the tyre/wheel package will still be the same.

e.g 13" wheels with 20" diameter tyres - high side wall tyres

18" wheels with 20" diameter tyres - low profile

Its all the same apart from the extra weight of the wheel and the low sidewall meaning pressure and temp is easier to maintain.
 
simisker said:
I don't want to go back to the years of Bridgestone- or Michelin-friendly circuits, where you could dismiss a sizeable portion of the field on a given track simply because of their choice of boots.
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That was pretty awful wasn't it? I hated the idea that because it was hot one team would win and if it was wet another would win and there was no chance of a competitive race. One tyre manufacturer or 3 minimum.
 
So it's all heading towards Avon getting the contract then. Cheaper contract and same size wheels.

With Pirrelli and Michelin wanting to use variants of their GT tyres it means there is big expensive design changes for the F1 teams needed.
 
Flibster said:
So it's all heading towards Avon getting the contract then. Cheaper contract and same size wheels.

With Pirrelli and Michelin wanting to use variants of their GT tyres it means there is big expensive design changes for the F1 teams needed.
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You have to remember that there will be no tyre warmers next year, so they may need to change the tyre profiles anyway - lower profile tyres warm up quicker and maintain pressure better, making them safer.
 
Duke said:
With Bridgestone pulling out at the end of the season, it seems very likely that Michelin will return, however there could be other tyre manufactures joining them too - which to me is only a good thing.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82586

Could mix things up a bit :)
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Personally I rather see both of them in the races and not just one. I think they've made F1 boring. No different tire manu for fun, no fuel change, hardly any car can over take. Gee whats left.
 
MarcLister said:
Avon were thinking of doing a bid but using re-branded Bridgestone tyres weren't they?
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Avon would have used their own tyres. They do currently supply race tyres all over the place. F3, F2, GT cars, IMSA Prototypes, as well as experience with classic F1 in the Thoroughbred Grand Prix and Euroboss.
 
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