Ferrari and McLaren unite to help Bridgestone stave off Michelin threat

According to this week's Motorsport News, although the two big guns are currently locked in a battle for F1 supremacy they have vowed to pool their resources, rather than work independently, as their individual requirements could hamper Bridgestone's efforts.

Michelin supplies five teams to Bridgestone's six, but the French manufacturer has a clear number one in Williams-BMW, which has thus far proved to be its only team with a chance of winning races.

"Unless we are open, all we will do is make life easy for Michelin," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis. "We have no intention of doing that, so it's one of the rare occasions when we can be happy bedfellows. We don't have a direct dialogue with Ferrari, but it takes place through Bridgestone."

Dennis denies that the two teams have already demanded completely different directions of tyre development from Bridgestone this season.

"It's not true that we have different requirements," he added. "By and large, tyre development is going in a direction with which we are both happy."

Ferrari's technical director Ross Brawn echoed Dennis's sentiments: "We haven't had any conflict yet, as far as I'm aware. It's obviously better that we both agree on something."

Despite Ralf Schumacher's stunning performance in the San Marino Grand Prix for Williams, Brawn still believes the world championship is a two-horse race.

"I think the championship is going to be between McLaren and Ferrari to be honest," he said. "Williams's inconsistency is symptomatic of the tyre situation. They had a very good tyre in Imola, and then a poor tyre here [Barcelona]. They will certainly win some races, but I don't really see that they are going to be consistent enough over the season."