Confirmed: Williams to Bridgestone, Red Bull stay on Michelin

[Gt_R]

It's good news to hear Williams jump to Bridgestones and that more importantly, Toyota is looking to make the same switch.

Williams switch isn't a surprise considering that they are not getting the best out of the Michelins as their rivals Mclaren/Renault are. With loss of BMW, and a few key technical people changing..how much is Williams a strong force to be reckoned with? Or would they start to struggle as a new midfields?

In terms of parity between tyres manufacturers next season. Michelin would have 4 manufacturers teams and 1 midfield.
BS would have 2 manufacturers teams, 1 midfield, 2 backmarkers.. Not exactly equal footings. Let's hope it'd be enough.

RBR's decision to stick with Michelin shows their determination to get their factors right. It is also a slap on the faces of critics from anti-Ferraris/RBR camps, who think they'd join BS just because they use Ferrari engines.

[Marcel ten Caat]

FIA reaction on Michelin press release

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.

Isn't the world of F1 a friendly world

[Razor]

Well, does anyone rember when Ferrari used Goodyear tyres

[ASCII Man]

From god knows when till 1998...

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

From god knows when till 1998...

Didn't they use Pirelli's in 1990?

Anyway, re: Williams switching to Bridgestone...I fear they're looking at another '99 next year...Webber looking at doing a Ralf and surviving through it.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Didn't they use Pirelli's in 1990?

No