While nothing is official yet there are reports Pirelli has made the financially more appetizing proposal in their bid to be supplier of black sticky stuff after Bridgestone's departure. Michelin and Pirelli are said to have both proposed furnishing tires at a cost of 1.5 million euros per team but Pirelli is willing to buy advertising heavily at venues ( and presumably provide mechanics with free calendars!). An F1 contract means venues give up signage rights which then get sold with the revenue in part distributed among the teams. Michelin demanded to have free advertising space at races.
Both Pirelli and Michelin have insisted Formula 1 move to a tire which at least vaguely looks like a street tire and proposed using 18 inch wheels. This will radically alter the look of cars which now are limited to 13 inch wheels and tiny brake rotors.. But more than the look I imagine this will have a radical impact on the way cars suspensions are designed as now much of the compliance is provided by the tire and much as the springs. Maybe one of our more techie readers would like to illustrate the specifics of this proposal?
Whichever company and technical solution gets the go ahead, you would think this decision has to be made ASAP as design for next season's cars is around the corner and I would bet teams would rather keep the same fat donut type wheels until the next radical change in F1's formula in 2013.
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