Williams and Toyota F1 Teams Leave Michelin

Michelin has confirmed it will end its links with Williams and Toyota in a press conference at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday evening. As expected the company also suggested it would pull-out of Formula 1 altogether if it became a single supplier series. However the sport’s governing body, the FIA, hit back at Eduoard’s Michelin’s statement saying: “If Mr Michelin is not aware of these simple facts he shows an almost comical lack of knowledge of modern Formula 1.”

Having ceased its supply agreement with Michelin, the Williams F1 team has already agreed a deal with competing supplier, Bridgestone. Observers expect Toyota to follow suit shortly.

However it was Michelin’s reaction to FIA president Max Mosley’s plans for F1 to become a single supplier series that really stood out. The FIA wants to end the Formula 1 tyre war with the introduction of new regulations in 2008, but Michelin says it has no interest in supplying all teams.

“For more than a century the spirit of racing has been strong within Michelin. When I see the proposal made by the FIA for control monopoly tyres for 2008 I wonder whether these values of competition are still shared. We have clearly stated repeatedly that we are opposed to this project. The economic argument for wanting to eliminate competition and choice simply does not make sense. Maybe there are other reasons behind the FIA’s proposal for monopoly tyres. We would like those behind this idea within the FIA to be transparent about their intentions,” said company chief executive, Edouard Michelin, at a Belgian Grand Prix press conference.

Observers have suggested that Michelin’s comments reflect the company’s anger with FIA for deciding to hand the exclusive tyre supply deal for the World Touring Car Championship to rivals Yokohama, hinting that his own company’s part in the United States Grand Prix fiasco played a part. Michelin said it feels the company is still being persecuted for this, claiming the reasons for Yokohama’s WTCC deal “remain a mystery.”

“We will withdraw from 2008 if there is a single tyre and before that, before 2007 maybe. We will consider the situation,” said Mr Michelin.

In response, the FIA hit back with a statement posted on the governing body’s official web site. Referring to the comments made by Eduoard Michelin, the statement said: “He is clearly irritated that the FIA condemned Michelin’s failure to provide suitable tyres for the 2005 United States Grand Prix. Mr Michelin should try to understand that no governing body, competitor or member of the paying public could be happy with a supplier which turned up with the wrong equipment and wrecked a major world championship event.”

Further, regarding the move for a single tyre supplier the statement added: “Mr Michelin should be aware…there are powerful arguments for a single tyre in Formula One. If Mr Michelin is not aware of these simple facts he shows an almost comical lack of knowledge of modern Formula 1.”

Defending its decision to award Yokohama the World Touring Car Championship, the FIA concluded: “This was quite simply because theirs was the best bid. Their success had nothing whatever to do with Michelin’s debacle in Indianapolis, indeed the final tendering decision was made before the 2005 United Sates Grand Prix.”

Michelin’s announcement means five teams will use Michelin tyres next season – McLaren, Renault, BAR-Honda, Red Bull and Sauber. The remaining five – Ferrari, Williams, Toyota, Minardi and Jordan – are set to use Bridgestone.