FIA Warned Michelin Prior to Letter

The FIA warned Michelin informally that their tyres may be considered illegal, prior to sending a letter to all teams, Atlas F1 has learned.

FIA technical delegate Charlie Whiting sent all ten Formula One teams a letter last Wednesday notifying them the procedure for measuring the tread width of front tyres will change with immediate effect. Previously, the tread width was measured only on new tyres.

However, the FIA now confirms that following a complaint from Ferrari - and having verified the information that Michelin tyres have a greater tread width in use than allowed - Whiting contacted Michelin immediately after the Hungarian race and three days before he sent an official letter to the teams.

An FIA spokesman told Atlas F1: "As Ferrari have confirmed, it was they who pointed out to the FIA Technical Delegate that tyres which had a tread width of 270mm when new, appeared to be using a greater tread width when in use.

"Having checked this information, Charlie Whiting warned the relevant tyre company informally immediately after the race in Hungary. On his return to the office three days later he wrote to inform all the teams.

"The rules are not concerned with parts of the tyre which make occasional contact with the track or kerbs, but parts which are in regular or systematic contact with the track and thus constitute tread.

"There is reason to believe that the tyres in question may not be identical to those in use at the start of the season. There may also have been changes to car set-up, i.e. changes to the way the tyres were being used.

"The tyres in question either comply with the regulation or they do not. If they are used in Monza in combination with a car set-up which gives more than 270mm tread width, the stewards and, ultimately, the FIA Court of Appeal will have to decide if the rules have been broken.

"As the FIA has previously stated, the subject was mentioned when FIA President Max Mosley and FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting visited Ferrari last week. It was not discussed because the matter was effectively 'sub judice' - the relevant tyre company having been informed two days previously of the possible infringement."

Michelin partner teams, currently testing in Monza, are already trying new, narrower tyres, however Williams stated yesterday they will make a decision after testing various options, including changing the car's set-up with the existing tyres.