Michelin to run new tyre in Malaysia

Michelin are planning revenge for Bridgestone's victory in the Australian Grand Prix by introducing a radical new tyre in next week's Malaysian race, according to this week's AUTOSPORT magazine

Much of the credit for Michael Schumacher's dominant win in Melbourne has gone to Bridgestone, whose tyres worked better than Michelin's in the surprisingly cool temperatures. The French manufacturer is pushing to help their top teams Williams and McLaren hit back at Sepang.

Michelin competition boss Pierre Dupasquier told AUTOSPORT: "We have some tyres that are different in terms of compound and construction."

Dupasquier is also pushing to get approval from motorsport's governing body, the FIA, for their controversial asymmetrical grooved tyre that proved so effective in pre-season testing. Michelin were warned not to take the rubber to Melbourne because it would likely have been declared illegal by the race stewards.

But the new tyre for Malaysia could be just as effective as the asymmetrical grooved rubber, according to Dupasquier. "We may have the same results with a different way, so it doesn't matter," he said. "We will find out."

For more details, and the definitive round-up of news and analysis from the Australian GP, see this week's AUTOSPORT, on sale Thursday.