Michelin will not reply on FIA's tender for tyre supply in F1

Michelin, the French tyre supplier, stated today that it will not reply on the FIA's tender for tyre supply in Formula One. In 2008, there is only allowed one tyre supplier in F1. Here follows Michelin's statement.

Michelin statement:
"Michelin has continually made its belief known that Formula One should, as motorsport's cutting-edge discipline, be an arena where the most advanced technologies can do battle in the interest of motoring.

In this respect, the changes in the Formula One rules to bring in a single-tyre supplier go completely against these principles. It is one more step towards standardising a sport which should be practised at the highest level of competition.

As a result, Michelin will not reply to the FIA tender for tyre supply in Formula One. It does not wish to be seen to support the spirit of this tender at a time when the quality of its tyres has been amply demonstrated and appreciated by its partners, with a total of 99 Grand Prix wins over the years, under whichever rules have been in place."