Michelin slams 'incoherent' FIA over tyre changes
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-29 09:50

Changes to the Formula One tyre regulations for next season would increase costs and illustrated the sport's problem of "incoherent decision-making", Michelin said on Friday.

The French manufacturer said in a statement the changes announced by the sport's governing FIA this week would result in teams needing more tyres and an increase in development, production and logistics costs of 15 percent.

"The change ... is incoherent with cost reduction objectives sought by the FIA president (and) is a step backwards in regards to the 2005 regulations presented, at the time, by the FIA solely for cost reduction purposes," the statement said.

Michelin, who supplied seven of the 10 teams last season, said the changes would make Michelin's work in 2005 redundant and require the development of a new generation of tyres for next season.

"Michelin, therefore, questions the FIA's hidden motivations for the 2006 F1 regulations.

"Once again, this event illustrates the F1's problems of incoherent decision-making and lack of transparency."

The FIA announced this week that the sport would revert to a single tyre supplier, possibly as early as 2007.

The other manufacturer involved in Formula One, Japan's Bridgestone, released a statement on Thursday saying it was committed to the sport.

Michelin supplied the tyres for the champion Renault team and their main rivals McLaren this season, but its campaign was blighted by the U.S. Grand Prix where all of the Michelin teams withdrew because of safety concerns about the tyres.