Michelin promises Formula 1 tyres drivers can push if it gets deal

The French manufacturer this week confirmed to AUTOSPORT it had submitted its proposal to the FIA to become F1's tyre supplier from 2017.

Although F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone feels the return of Michelin - last in F1 in 2006 - would be detrimental, Couasnon is willing to work with the 84-year-old to ensure F1 provides the entertainment required.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT, Couasnon said: "We could obviously provide different compounds and suggest a car runs for so many laps with that tyre, but pushing all the time. A driver wouldn't have to wait for the tyre to degrade.

"You could provoke a rule where you have to stop, and a team may even want to re-use a particular tyre one or two times.

"So there are things that can be done without the driver driving at 70 per cent of what he can do, as is the case now."

Couasnon certainly feels 13-inch rims, as currently used in F1, need to be axed and a more road-relevant size employed.

It is understood there is resistance to such a change as bigger rims mean an increase in weight - around 4.5kg per wheel - at a time when F1 is focused on lightness so the cars become quicker in 2017.

Despite that, Couasnon said: "We believe 18 inch makes sense, and if we need to go to 19 or 20, then why not?

"The key thing is we need to bring something that is closer to reality. Today, both on road cars and on racetracks you don't see 13 inch and big sidewalls.

"That's the reason why we are proposing to go to something more modern, and the big thing is to move away from the tall sidewall, and I believe Pirelli is starting to agree with us, which is pretty good.

Couasnon also feels there is scope for both manufacturers to exist in F1, but without reverting to an old-style costly tyre war.

Although the regulations specifically state the contract is for one supplier, Couasnon said: "It would be great if both were allowed and we had a little bit of competition in terms of tyres.

"The days of a tyre war, with huge amounts of resources deployed, is not really what we want or is desirable.

"With the limitation on testing it would not be possible anyway.

"We are thinking about rules, as in sportscar racing, where you have a limited number of days [of testing] and where you have the possibility of playing a joker [where a compound is replaced if uncompetitive] during the year.

"That way you avoid people complaining about a tyre because nothing moves, and there is a little bit of pressure because of competition.

"It's a good solution for everybody."