Opinion - Why F1 should never use Michelins

  • Published on 28 Sep 2015 20:01
  • comments 3
  • By: Matthew Gannon

Keeping the wheels on the ground - why F1 must not use Michelin tyres. 

When F1 and Michelin are mentioned together a few things come to mind, most notably the 2005 United States Grand Prix and the length of the tyre stints that created 'boring races'. Bridgestone won the contract and Pirelli later took over, but now where next? 
 
Michelin joined the sport in 2001 and after only two years hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when the tyres fit the regulations on width... At the start of the race, however as the race went on the tyres got wider and gave the cars more grip. Michelin ran for one more clean season before 2005 was another headline making one, the 2005 tyres were way quicker than Bridgestone's alternative and in United States the high pressure going through the tyres at turn 13, the banked corner, on the Indianapolis motor speedway course. The tyres failed at high speed and put the drivers in danger so Michelin did the best thing by proposing a chicane be introduced to the corner for the race to prevent the tyre load from causing failures. The cars running Michelins couldn't enter the race after the proposals were rejected so pulled into the pits at the end of the parade lap, the team refunded the spectators and gave 20,000 tickets for the 2006 race for free as compensation. Thankfully the new American Grand Prix is much more successful.
 
So Michelin are controversial and should be avoided but what's next. Personally teams should have increased prize money and negotiate their own tyre contracts whether it be Pirelli, Bridgestone or even Dunlop. All we will know of it is when it happens
 
Matthew Gannon- F1today

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • Interesting, and I agree the past doent look very nice for Michelin. Nevertheless, there is a reason for why WEC like them, and they are pretty competitive in series with multiple tyre suppliers like Super GT, even though Bridgestone still remain the most competitive tyre. Speaking of Bridgestone: was there ever as many complaints on them as there are on Pirelli?

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2015 - 20:41
  • No not at all but the fact is Michelins were too durable as we want more stops, bigger degradation and more on track action according to many fan surveys

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2015 - 21:01
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Trust me, a new tyre war will be very bad for F1.
    Many people want to see a certain driver win, many people want to see a certain team win, but who the hell wants to see a certain tyre win???
    Tyres are very important since they are (normally) the only contact between the car and the track. If everyone is on the same tyres then it's more up to the teams and drivers to make the difference, which is what F1 should be all about.

    • + 0
    • Sep 28 2015 - 21:58

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

  • Team name Pirelli
  • Base Milan, Italy
Show full profile
show sidebar