Willis backs Briatore's tyre concerns

Briatore has called for a revamp of the tyre rules because he is worried that Ferrari's intimate knowledge of Bridgestone's current generation of tyres will hand them an automatic advantage when all teams switch to the Japanese rubber in 2007 following Michelin's withdrawal from F1.

Willis believes Briatore's fears are well justified - and says that there could be difficulties for those teams who are switching from Michelin.

"It is a problem," he told autosport.com. "In that sort of situation, when you go to a single tyre situation, there is clearly going to be a big advantage for people already working with that tyre.

"That is one of the reasons why the 2008 regulations have a different shaped tyre, because it means we will be on the same tyre and the only way to be fair about it is to ensure that nobody has seen the tyre before.

"So it will be a disadvantage for sure if we are all on the Bridgestone next year. The current Michelin runners are going to have to do more catching up than the current Bridgestone runners."

Briatore suggested that the only way to ensure a level playing field would be for a radical revamp of the tyre rules. 

"I believe what the FIA and Bridgestone need to do is to change the compound and change the construction completely," he said. "I don't think it is fair to give an advantage to some teams - whoever those teams are.

"I don't care if it is just Ferrari. I believe we need to have equal possibility to do our job."

Although Honda Racing worked with Bridgestone as recently as 2003, before making the switch to Michelin in 2004, Willis thinks that it will not give them an edge over teams who joined Michelin earlier.

"We know a number of individuals at Bridgestone, so in terms of personal relationships we have already worked with Bridgestone people," he explained.

"So I hope we will be able to go up a very steep learning very quickly next year, but for sure it is always going to be an advantage to stick with a tyre partner than to make a change."

Formula One is due to switch to wider, slick tyres in 2008 - although the Michelin teams may now push for them to be introduced next year in a bid to ensure a level playing field for all teams.