Lotus principal backs Pirelli tyre supply

Michelin’s confirmed interest in the Formula One tyre supply deal may have caused a stir, but it appears the French brand’s approach remains limited to detailing its desire for regulation changes to governing body, the FIA. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that the sport’s teams currently have a deal with Pirelli, and Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has suggested that fewer changes at this stage would be welcome, considering the regulation changes already due to take place this winter.

“We have Pirelli and we are working with them and we are doing everything that we can to obviously make the package better,” said Boullier. “It’s going to be a complicated winter already and a complicated next year so the less change will maybe be the best.”

2014 will see the introduction of 1.6 litre V6 engines alongside a range of other changes, and a late change of tyres could be a challenge too far for teams already well into their development plans. It is thought that one item on Michelin’s wishlist would be much larger tyre dimensions.

Meanwhile Pirelli said that as far as it is concerned, “the only step missing is the FIA announcement” to confirm its exclusive supply deal continues into 2014.

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‘We have a deal with Pirelli’ – Ecclestone