Bridgestone Set to Stick with Current Teams

Formula One tyre suppliers Bridgestone are set to remain with their current teams for 2003, the Japanese company's director of motorsport Hiroshi Yasukawa revealed on Thursday.

World Champions Ferrari are currently benefiting from their association with Bridgestone, and the Italian team have become more closely linked with the company since McLaren moved to the rival Michelin brand at the end of last season.

Ferrari have a long-term deal with Bridgestone, but Sauber, Jordan, British American Racing, and Arrows are also supplied by the Japanese company and are now set to remain with them for at least another season.

"At this moment we are discussing with all the teams but basically we are not going to change," said Yasukawa. "I think we will be able to stay the same but no one knows for the future."

Bridgestone, thanks for Ferrari, have won six out of eight races so far this year, and technical manager Hisao Suganuma believes the company is ready for all conditions in order to win again on Sunday.

"The main issue about this circuit is not the track itself but its location," said Suganuma. "The weather can be very changeable and the ambient and track temperatures can alter quickly during the weekend.

"We have to try and take account of that not only in our dry-weather tyre options but also with the rain tyres."