10/05/2010
NEWS STORY
In terms of supplying tyres for the 2011 Formula One World Championship, Pirelli made its pitch to become sole supplier over the weekend, while Michelin has said that it will return to the sport only if it is one of several suppliers. However, has a deal already been done?
While Michelin is understood to be cutting its initial price, the call for a tyre war, not to mention its desire to increase the wheel diameter from 13 inches to 18 inches - thereby necessitating that teams significantly redesign their suspension layouts - is not going down too well. Pirelli, is also understood to be seeking a change to the wheel diameter but isn't keen on a tyre war.
Finally, there's Avon, which is said to be willing to offer unbranded tyres - which the teams would then presumably offer to potential sponsors - at a nice price.
While negotiations continue, it's worth noting that speaking at the weekend, McLaren test and reserve driver Gary Paffett revealed that work on the Woking team's 2011 car is virtually complete and that he will be testing it on the simulator this week.
If the car is, as Paffett says, complete, one must presume that some sort of tyre deal has been agreed and that the suspension layout is pretty much as is.