FIA extends condolences to Michelin

A statement issued by the FIA in Monaco on Saturday said: "The FIA extends sincere condolences to the Michelin family on the sad news of the death of Edouard Michelin.

"Our thoughts are with Mr. Michelin's family, his friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

Michelin lost his life in a boating accident off the coast of France on Friday.

The FIA endured a frosty relationship with Michelin ever since last year's United States Grand Prix fiasco.

Michelin was critical of the governing's body attitude, and backed a withdrawal from Formula One because of the move to a control tyre.

Late last year he was also unhappy at the way the sport had abandoned the one-race tyre rule after just one season.

"The decisions, the changes at the last minute, always bring you to wonder about the reasons or the real motivations," said Michelin.

"I think for motor racing to function well, one needs transparency and a clearness of intentions and objective.

"At the moment there is at the same time confusion on the objectives and of the urgency of the deadlines.

"It is a sign of problems, problems that are beyond us, but ones which will not throw a shadow over the formidable season that we had with our partners."