Trulli: tyres won't bring closer racing

With Michelin having withdrawn from Formula One at the end of last season, Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone will supply all 11 teams in 2007.

The lack of a tyre war, however, will not make racing any closer in 2007, according to Toyota driver Trulli.

"No, I don't think so," said Trulli. "I think the team who makes the better car and can exploit the tyres will have a big advantage, even if the new tyres are easy to handle and easy to understand.

"They can clearly show you the problems of the car, and in this case a small problem can become a big problem for performance. We can probably see some close races, and some others where the gap will be bigger."

Trulli's Toyota team, who today unveiled their challenger for the 2007 season, will use Bridgestone rubber for the second year running, but the Italian driver reckons the tyres have changed so much that their experience will count for little.

"I expected to have a bit of an advantage over the other teams, but the tyres we used in winter testing are new and the tyres we used last season have nothing to do with them," he added.

"But for sure the experience we gained last year will be helpful. We have a good relationship with Bridgestone, and they know us, they know our car, and they can give us a direction to help us work better with these tyres."