Michelin could have a surprise late opportunity to win the 2017-'19 F1 tire tender, despite Bernie Ecclestone making his preference for Pirelli clear at Monza last weekend.
In essence the way the FIA's tendering system works is that the FIA determines whether the applicants are suitable candidates, and that information is passed to Formula One Management. Ecclestone makes the final call, in response to commercial considerations.
It's long been apparent that Bernie and the FIA have different views about who should get the deal, with the governing body leaning towards the French company, and Bernie supporting Pirelli.
However, after recent events it is understood the FIA is considering a reappraisal of Pirelli's suitability. If the company loses that status then in theory Ecclestone would not be able to choose it, and Michelin would win the bid.
Sources suggest that the FIA has become increasingly frustrated with Pirelli. The Spa controversy put a negative spotlight on the relationship, and tensions between the tire maker and the FIA were further ramped up in Monza where there was some confusion over the measurement of minimum starting pressure.
Pirelli supported the last minute checks made by the FIA on the top four cars on the grid only to later admit that its own measurements are usually made at a much earlier stage, when the tire blankets are still connected.
Pirelli thus had to agree that it could not contest the low figures found on the two Mercedes cars, as the team had complied with its usual procedures.
Meanwhile, in the light of the Spa controversy, FOM put out a statement indicating its support for Pirelli and underlining the fact that current supplier has been requested by the sport to make tires that degrade.
Asked if this support was a clear sign that Pirelli will get the tender, Ecclestone said: “Sure, we're not going to let them go, they're doing a good job. I said to them a long time ago I don't want a tire that's going to last the whole race.
“They do the very best they can with what they've been asked to do. They can make a tire that you can put on in January and take off in December.”
The tender process has been complicated by the fact that is it not a straight fight between the two rivals, because Michelin has specified that it will only enter if F1 switches to a low profile format. Teams are resistant to the idea because that will mean a total redesign of their brake and suspension systems.
However, others point out that such a challenge could easily be added to the large package of rule changes coming for 2017, including wider tires, which would in any case force the teams to adapt.
In addition teams have doubts about the potential pace of low profile tires, at a time when there is a move to make the cars faster. However, Michelin apparently claims this is not the case.
The other contentious aspect is that Michelin is believed to want to create robust tires that don't degrade, with a prime good for 75 percent of the race, and the option for 50 percent, and one pit stop as the default choice. It remains to be seen how such a policy would work given that it is now generally accepted that degradation is good for the show.
“We want tires that are going to make the driver very tired when he's done racing. We are not against pit stops or a good show,” Michelin's Pascal Couasnon said in June. “I would argue that Le Mans over the last several years has been an incredible show, with great technology tires. So it's possible to have a show, and we can have pit stops with a tire that allows you to drive 100 percent of the time.
“You could say for example you have two specs, and with Spec A for example you have 'x' laps maximum, and you use them the way you want. Or within 'x' number of races you've got that many laps.”
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