Prost's Ferrari Deal Worries Michelin

Tyre makers Michelin, returning to Formula One next season, have expressed concern about supplying Prost in 2001 because of the French team's engine deal with Ferrari.

World champions Ferrari will continue with Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone in 2001 while Prost are set to link up with the French tyre manufacturer, who have an obligation to supply up to 60 percent of the grid.

"We have complete confidence in Alain and his organisation and we have had strong relations in the past," Michelin spokesman Andy Pope was quoted as saying in the British weekly Motoring News on Wednesday.

"But it's obvious that Prost will be working closely with Ferrari. The information that we would want to supply for modelling with the cars would be very useful to our competition and it's a worry.

"Ferrari will have engineers working with the (Prost) team and there is no point in us supplying the team if we don't give it the information it needs. There doesn't appear to be a solution at the moment," Pope said.

Prost, run by former Ferrari driver and four times world champion Alain Prost, were supplied by Peugeot last season and ended the season without a point. They have signed a two-year engine deal with the Italian team.

Ferrari also provide engines for the Swiss-based Sauber team, who will also be continuing with Bridgestone next year.

Bridgestone had a tyre monopoly this season and will supply six of the 11 Formula One teams in 2001 -- Ferrari, McLaren, BAR, Jordan, Sauber and Arrows.

"From our point of view, if Prost goes to Michelin we don't mind," a Bridgestone spokesman said on Wednesday.

"We want to split the teams 50-50."