Ferrari reject suggestion of 2007 tyre favouritism

MONACO, May 25 (Reuters) Ferrari have dismissed suggestions that Formula One's switch to a single tyre supplier next year will give them an advantage.

Renault team boss Flavio Briatore said this month that he feared Ferrari, who have a close relationship with Japan's Bridgestone, will be favoured when his team's partners Michelin pull out at the end of the season.

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn suggested today that all 11 teams would be dealing with a new and more basic type of tyre. He expects the Japanese company to support all teams without favouritism.

''I would suspect that Bridgestone will go back a step or two with the tyres (next year) because these (2006) tyres are quite expensive to produce,'' he said at the Monaco Grand Prix.

''There is very little incentive for Bridgestone to use the type of tyres we have now if they are the sole supplier.

''There's no doubt that those teams that have built a relationship with Bridgestone will benefit from having built that relationship, they will know which engineers to talk to and how to work with Bridgestone,'' added Brawn.

''But I think that's entirely fair and proper. The situation we have coming in 2007 is because Michelin decided to withdraw from the sport.'' Michelin supply champions Renault as well as McLaren, Honda, BMW and the two Red Bull teams. Bridgestone's other teams are Williams, Toyota, Super Aguri and Midland.

''Those teams that are unhappy with the situation should go and complain to Michelin, they shouldn't talk to the rest of us,'' said Brawn.

Formula One teams and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) have agreed formally to move to a single tyre supplier from 2008, with the governing body announcing a tender for that contract earlier in the week.

Reuters SI DB2248