08/09/2013
NEWS STORY
FIA president Jean Todt insists the sport's governing body is ready to renew Pirelli's contract to supply Formula One in 2014 and beyond.
With the current season well into its second half and many teams having already switched their focus to next year, the spanner in the works has been the failure to agree a new contract with Pirelli or indeed an alternative supplier.
While Pirelli claims to have a contract with Bernie Ecclestone and all the teams, the issue has been clouded by talk of Michelin returning to the sport. To add fuel to the fire, there has been speculation that Todt has been behind the deal, eager to help a French company.
Speaking at Monza on Saturday, Todt said that providing all parties are in agreement a deal can be done and Pirelli can get on with the job of providing tyres for the new look formula.
"If everybody says we are very happy, then what is the point of a tender?" he said. "If it is unanimous to go in a direction and then I go to a tender you know what people will say? They will say 'he is against Pirelli so he does a tender to try to make it Michelin'."
Asked about the speculation that he favoured Michelin because it is French, he laughed.
"I know what needs to be done but at the moment there are some discussions that need to be undertaken," he said, "some discussions with the teams, some discussions with the commercial rights holders. I know Michelin has demonstrated interest. But at the end of the day we will do the things that need to be done. But I will not do something which does not create a consensus."
Earlier, Todt had confirmed that he will stand for a second terms as FIA president.