Pirelli is surprised rival tyre manufacturer Michelin has entered the tender process to supply Formula One by making demands to change the regulations.
Michelin has thrown its hat into the ring for F1's tyre contract between 2017 and 2019, but has done so with a list of conditions about the tyre regulations. Chief among them are 18-inch rims and a move away from the quick-degrading tyres that have defined Pirelli's most recent spell in the sport, but Pirelli boss Paul Hembery is not convinced the sport is willing to make such changes.
"The rules say it's the current [tyre] size and in 2017 there is a move to 425mm width," Hembery said. "It would be like an engine manufacturer turning up and saying they will only race if they can have a 2.4-litre V8, but the rules say it's a 1.6-litre turbo, so I don't know. The rules are as they are today and the impression was that after the last Strategy Group they would go to a 425-wide tyre. I can only comment on and only supply what the rules say you can supply.
Asked specifically about 18-inch tyres, Hembery added: "Why would you do that? We fit Fiestas with 18-inch tyres in rallying. If the sport wants to make a change because it wants to be dramatic then you would go for a minimum of 20-inch. As it is, they are talking about going to a 425-width tyre, which is not very normal for motorsport and would differentiate it from other levels. I don't know why everyone is fixated on 18-inches, it's not that interesting because it's what we do on Fiestas."
Hembery said F1's rule makers are currently looking for more pit stops and therefore higher levels of degradation.
"If anything they are complaining that there is no degradation and the drivers can push all they want at the moment and that's not what they want either. We do what the sport asks us and it's not our position to change the rules, we can have suggestions of course, but at the moment it is very clear that the size of the tyre is set by the FIA together with the teams and the promoter and it states a certain size of tyre. They are still asking us to create a number of pit stops. We will respond to what we are asked to do."