 Michelin currently supplies four teams |
Michelin has outlined proposals which, it claims, would significantly reduce F1's speeds and operating costs. The FIA is determined to cut lap times which, it believes, are beginning to compromise driver safety.
Michelin says teams should use the same set of tyres for qualifying and racing, with stricter limits on testing.
"We would be be obliged to use much harder compounds, which will be less 'grippy', thus reducing speeds," said competition director Pierre Dupasquier.
He added: "To seriously reduce costs, testing must be limited. This can be complemented by providing fewer tyres, so the amount of testing would be further reduced.
"I'm sure there can be a saving in team's operational costs of over 50%.
"Finally, these 'hard' tyres will leave less rubber on the track, making the 'dirty' line a thing of the past and therefore encouraging overtaking."
Michelin believes its proposals could be introduced as early as next season.
The company supplies the Williams, McLaren, Renault, BAR, Jaguar and Toyota teams.
The FIA has confirmed its intention to cut speeds in Formula One - with or without agreement from its teams.
Lap times at some circuits have fallen by over six seconds in seven years, leading to fears that safety could be compromised.
In a statement, the FIA said recent accidents in F1 had "tested the absolute limits of the FIA's latest safety measures".
MMIX
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