The ongoing debate over which direction Formula One should take over the 2011 tyre supply is now unlikely to be cleared up by the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend, as the issues of tyre cost and performance split the F1 teams.
With Bridgestone withdrawing from the sport at the end of the 2010 season, the F1 teams want to get the replacement contract sorted as soon as possible, with a new tyre supplier and potential new tyre specifications having an impact on their 2011 car designs.
But although the original plan was to have a solution in place in time for the Barcelona weekend, that is now looking unlikely, according to Williams technical director Sam Michael.
Three companies have expressed an interest in replacing Bridgestone, with recent F1 company Michelin in the frame along with Cooper Avon, and Italian company Pirelli also recently throwing their hat in the ring.
A meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association on Wednesday to discuss the situation is believed to have narrowed the options down to a straight choice between Michelin and Avon.
With Michelin said to be proposing a switch to lower profile tyres, with a switch to 18-inch wheel rims likely, the teams are split on whether to opt for the experience of Michelin or the cheaper option of Avon, who are said to be Bernie Ecclestone's choice for the contract, and would reportedly use Bridgestone employees to get them up to speed on medern F1 rubber.
And Michael admitted that there are positives and negatives to both of the frontrunning bids.
"Avon's a lot cheaper [than Michelin] but it's a less proven product although they've done plenty of highly competitive tyres," Michael explained to the BBC.
"[Avon] are a bigger unknown than Michelin because Michelin did [F1] very recently. But there is a significant difference in cost and you are probably talking over three times the difference in cost to the teams."
With F1 losing a number of big manufacturers recently, and taking on new, smaller teams, the issue of cost is set to be more divisive than ever.
Michael added that the prospect of a solution before Spain was unlikely.
"I think the discussion in FOTA is just acknowledgement that you've got to take into account a lot of different factors: it's not a straight financial decision and it's not a straight technical decision," he mused.
"All this needs to be discussed with Bernie [Ecclestone] as he's traditionally looked after tyre supply."
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