We will only consider returning if there is competition - Michelin

In the motorsport world the buzz about Michelin's possible return to the Formula One World Championship has created a lot of stir, especially since it is speculated that there might be a switch to an 18" wheel/tyre diameter as of the 2011 season, an increase from the traditional 13" design.

The French manufacture is ruling out the return unless it faces competition from another maker, although under the current circumstances Bridgestone, the current supplier, has set its sights on leaving F1 at the end of this season.

"We are interested in but it must be done in the right way, so who knows what will happens. Certain things have to be done. We must have competition - we do not want to be the only supplier," a spokesperson for Michelin stated at the Le Mans Series Paul Ricard event from this past weekend.

"Also, we need to be able to use the opportunity of having competition to improve our tyre technology; for example, our new Pilot 3 road tyres have technology developed for Le Mans in them. We need something like this from Formula 1 too," he added.

"Finally, it must have the possibility to improve the greenness; perhaps we would like something like the Green X Challenge in F1 something to help ecology."