Michelin form threatens Ferrari

Ferrari's chances of retaining its world championship titles could be jeopardised unless tyre supplier Bridgestone can turnaround its testing form ahead of the 2004 Formula 1 season, according to a report in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine

The final test of the year at Jerez in Spain underlined a gulf between the Michelin and Bridgestone supplied teams. The Michelin-shod McLaren of Pedro de la Rosa lapped the new MP4-19 in 1m16.210s, over 2secs faster than Ferrari's Luca Badoer on Bridgestones.

One engineer from a Bridgestone team, who wished to remain anonymous, told AUTOSPORT: "Looking at the tyres of Michelin during the Jerez test session I am rather worried for 2004. Simple mathematics lead to the conclusion that Ferrari, Sauber, Jordan and Minardi will not be in a position to answer the six Michelin teams. More kilometres means more data and more data leads to better tyres."

At Jerez, Michelin teams managed 2720 laps of testing, while Bridgestone only managed 517 laps. Meanwhile in testing last month at Barcelona, the Spanish GP venue, Badoer's best time of 1m17.291s was eclipsed a week later by Renault tester Franck Montagny's 1m16.290s on Michelins.

In another blow to Bridgestone, Sauber has also revealed that it does not have enough budget to field test driver Neel Jani in a third car for all grands prix on Fridays next year, which would reduce the Japanese tyre manufacturer's pool of cars yet further.