FIA responds to Michelin comments

The FIA has noted Mr Michelin's comments to the press at Spa-Francorchamps.

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.

Regarding the move for a single tyre supplier, Mr Michelin should be aware that the proposal did not come from the FIA but from all the competing teams, including all of Mr Michelin's teams. 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 One.

Mr Michelin is also quoted as complaining that Yokohama won the recent tender for the FIA World Touring Car Championship. 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.

-fia-