• Tyre news

Ecclestone dismisses Michelin interest

ESPN Staff
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Bernie Ecclestone and FOM have a contract with Pirelli beyond the end of this season © Sutton Images
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Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed interest from Michelin about coming Formula One's tyre supplier next season.

Michelin confirmed over the Belgian Grand Prix weekend that it would be interested in returning to the sport as long as the FIA was willing to make some changes to the regulations. However, Ecclestone told Speed that contact between Michelin and the FIA would prove irrelevant as Pirelli already has a deal signed with the commercial rights holder.

"FOM and Pirelli have a contract," Ecclestone said. "We don't need [a contract with the FIA], I don't think. They are nothing to do with commercial. The FIA's position is that they are regulators. They regulate all the regulations that have been agreed."

Ecclestone also said he would be opposed to Michelin joining Pirelli in a tyre war situation.

"They will want to pick the teams that they think will win, and they'll pay them a lot more money to take them as opposed to somebody else. We have a deal with Pirelli, anyway."

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