Michelin Fights Back At F1: "We Cannot Agree" Over Tyre Philosophies

Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux announced the company will not apply to replace Pirelli as Formula 1’s official tyre supplier due to conflicting philosophies.

Michelin CEO, Florent Menegaux, has announced that the French tyre manufacturer will not be vying for Pirelli’s spot as the official tyre supplier for Formula 1. The CEO has cited conflicting philosophies as the main reason for Michelin’s lack of interest in the coveted position, adding that they don't need F1 to survive as a brand.

Despite the invitation from the FIA to apply for the exclusive F1 supply deal, which will begin in 2025 and last for at least four seasons, Michelin has declared that they will not be submitting an application, unlike Pirelli, F1’s tyre supplier since 2011, who was quick to announce their interest.

Michelin’s lack of interest in the role stems from the fact that F1 wants entertainment, sacrificing increased tyre performance for more involved racing from a fan's perspective. This differs from Michelin's beliefs, which simply wants to provide the best product they can. 

Talking to The Drive, Menegaux explained his reasoning:

“The question is, how do we leverage technology to have a good show? And that’s where F1 comes into play, because we have been discussing with them for a very long time and we are not in agreement.

“Because they [F1] say to have the show, you have to have tyres that destroy themselves. And I think, we [Michelin] don’t know how to do this. So, we cannot agree.

“Teams should be understanding tyre performance and capitalising on the fact that the tyre is going to be performing from the first lap around the circuit to the last.

“The drivers will tell you they want to be at their maximum all the time. And when I hear the drivers in Formula 1, I like Formula 1, but they say no no, it’s not possible.” 

Breaking it down further, the tyre company chief explained the symbiotic relationship his company has with racing:

“First, we need to remind ourselves why Michelin is in racing. The first element is not about the show. It’s not about the brand. It’s about the technology," he said.

“We are in racing because it’s the best way to very quickly live test new technology. That’s the first reason.

“And of course there are side benefits—a side benefit is the show. A side benefit is the brand awareness. But in terms of brand awareness, Michelin is one of the best-known brands in the world. We don’t need to do this," he ended, putting the sport in its place. 

It would be interesting to see F1 return to its roots of multiple tyre manufacturers competing within the season, but it's no surprise that Michelin - and others - won't want the expense of such a thing. After all, if they're unable to develop higher performance technologies and are instead acting as a limit to performance to improve the entertainment factor, they get very little out of this other than brand recognition, something these companies don't necessarily need. 

Pirelli is still keen to further its relationship with F1, so it's unlikely we'll see drastic changes here.