Renault confident Michelin will keep edge

Michelin won all but one race in the 2005 season, taking full advantage of new regulations that forced the teams to use one set of tyres for the entire race.

Tyre changes, however, will return next season, and it is believed that will benefit Bridgestone, who enjoyed a dominant 2004 with Ferrari with similar rules.

But Renault's technical director Bob Bell believes that, despite the rule changes, Michelin will still have an advantage over their rivals.

"There is a simple truth in F1: you never un-invent technology," said Bell. "Michelin made significant progress under the longer life tyre rules in 2005 - and also in the area of wet tyres, as we saw in Spa - and those gains will have direct benefits for next year.

"We have every confidence that Michelin have the ability to develop winning tyres for 2006, and it is our responsibility, with the other teams, to ensure that happens. For us at Renault, it is a very important objective to finish 2006 saying that Michelin tyres were the best we have ever had."