Michelin reacts with new tyre

The French manufacturer's motorsport boss Pierre Dupasquier commented: "The new interpretation of the rules by the FIA has forced us to react.

"You don't think for one moment that Michelin would not respond to the challenge? Our people have been working 24 hours a day since last Wednesday and new tyres are being tested in Monza as we speak. For anyone that knows anything about the tyre world, to do what we've just managed is a huge achievement and this is only possible thanks to the hard work and fast reaction time of our teams here in Clermont-Ferrand"

Williams and McLaren began to assess the new tyres this afternoon during the F1 test at Monza, but as yet no comment on their effectiveness has been forthcoming.

The row centres around the width of the company's front tyres. This must not exceed 270mm, but Ferrari complained to the FIA in Hungary that worn Michelin tyres appeared to be wider than the regulations allow. Previously tyres had only been measured when new, but the FIA has now informed the teams that it will measure them at other times from now on.

Dupasquier believes the FIA's new stance will create further problems. "I believe that it will be almost impossible to define an objective method to measure the limits of a tread after running. A tyre when running deforms, gathers 'pick-up' off the track..."