A condition Michelin says must be fulfilled before it considers a return to Formula 1 tyre supply is the change from the 13-inch tyres now used to an 18-inch size. Therefore, the decision made by the tyre maker and Renault Sport Technologies to evaluate the use of 18-inch tyres in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship – a series it views as a “springboard for drivers looking to reach Formula 1” – could be viewed as Michelin taking a step closer towards picking up where it left off in 2006. The two parties are also looking into using 17-inch tyres in the Formula Renault 2.0 championship.