Teams discuss re-igniting F1 tyre war in 2011

Friday’s meeting with Bernie Ecclestone involving all the team bosses was almost exclusively about the tyre supplier situation for 2011.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said the leading figures are concerned that, 11 months prior to next season’s world championship, it is not clear who will replace the departing official supplier Bridgestone.

The report said French marque Michelin, having pulled out at the end of 2006 upset about the end of the tyre war, is willing to return but “wants money”.

The rumoured figure is between EUR2 and 5 million per team per season, and including free advertising around the grand prix circuits.

Interestingly, it has also been rumoured that Bridgestone might rethink its decision to leave F1 if the teams pay for their supply contracts.

It is rumoured that Ecclestone is proposing that the advertising revenue lost by giving Michelin free circuit hoardings should come out of general revenue — in other words, the teams will get less.

But if F1 re-commenced a tyre war, it would mean that Michelin’s rivals – for example Hankook or Kumho – would compete for the signatures of the teams, leading to more favourable contract terms.

© RIF|GMM