Europe preview quotes: Michelin

"Our tyres gave good first-lap performance but we made major progress in terms of consistency on a demanding track. These promising results have enhanced our database as the European part of the Formula One season gets into its stride at the Nurburgring, in Germany.

"Traditionally, it is difficult selecting tyre compounds for this track because the weather tends to be variable - and that might be more of a factor than ever this time, because the race is taking place three weeks earlier than it did last season.

"As a result, the tyres require a fairly broad operating spectrum - that's to say they have to be fast and consistent even if the weather forecasts are 100 per cent inaccurate, as they were at Imola. On the evidence of previous seasons, conditions could border on freezing yet could just as easily nudge 30°C.

"As for the possibility of rain, that holds no worries - the lap times our partners recorded during free practice for the Australian Grand Prix indicated just how much progress Michelin has made in that domain.

"Aside from its meteorological difficulties, the Nurburgring is not a particularly demanding track on a technical level and the asphalt is not too abrasive.

"We need to take care getting our tyre preparation right, however, because the circuit has a tendency to promote graining. It provides more overtaking possibilities than Imola and we analysed its blend of corners and straights very carefully when developing suitable tyres.

"It takes a real team effort to ensure we supply our partners with competitive products - this involves research, development, diligence, shrewd logistics and dedicated technical personnel. The products we have selected for the Nurburgring have evolved from endless hard work.

"So far this year our six partners have covered about 120,000 kilometres (74,500 miles) of testing and part of that has been dedicated to tyre development."