FIA hit back at Michelin over tyre row
World governing body the FIA has accused Edouard Michelin of “an almost comical lack of knowledge” after he threatened to pull his tyre company out of Formula One.
Michelin is angered by FIA president Max Mosley’s plan to introduce a single tyre manufacturer, claiming such a move would restrict competition in Formula One and damage its reputation as the pinnacle of motorsport.
He threatened to pull out at the end of the 2006 season unless the FIA were more “transparent” about their motives, hinting that Michelin’s problems at Indianapolis were behind the plan.
But the FIA have responded with a strongly-worded statement attacking Michelin.
It read: “Mr Michelin should be aware that the proposal did not come from the FIA but from all competing teams, including all of Mr Michelin’s teams.
“There are simple arguments for a single tyre in Formula One. If Mr Michelin is not aware of these simple facts he shows an almost comical lack of knowledge of modern Formula One.”
The FIA also defended their response to Michelin’s refusal to race at Indianapolis over safety fears.
The governing body charged seven teams with bringing the sport into disrepute and Mosley was highly critical of Michelin.
The statement added: “He is clearly irritated that the FIA condemned Michelin’s failure to provide suitable tyres for the 2005 United States Grand Prix.
“Mr Michelin should try to understand that no governing body, competitor or member of the paying public could be happy with a supplier which turned up with the wrong equipment and wrecked a major world championship event.”
