BAR looks at switch to Michelin

BAR boss Craig Pollock has admitted that he is looking at switching to Michelin next season, but is not eyeing an immediate switch to the French rubber, according to this week's Autosport magazine.

"We will finish the season with Bridgestone, but I am trying to reach a deal with Michelin for 2002," said Pollock.

Honda is believed to be keen to have one of its teams on each brand of rubber next year, but Michelin's competitions boss Pierre Dupasquier has stressed that a change may not necessarily be a formality for BAR.

"The people at Honda have been our friends for the past 30 years and it would certainly be very interesting for us to supply tyres to one of their teams," he said. "But we might as well have the better of the two, whether that will be BAR or Jordan."

Michelin may also face opposition from the existing teams contracted to using its rubber. Before the season began, Benetton boss Flavio Briatore said he hoped that those teams who had gambled on switching to Michelin would be repaid with loyalty and that other teams hoping to jump on the bandwagon would be discouraged.