Michelin teams demand chicane - or no race!

The seven Michelin teams have agreed that they will only race in the US Grand Prix if a chicane is fitted before the banked turn 13 overnight.

Following a post-qualifying meeting, the teams have written a letter to the FIA explaining their position and requesting the construction of a chicane. However that is extremely unlikely to happen, which means that we could see a race take place with just the six Bridgestone cars in it - provided the Michelin teams stick to their agreement.

The seven Michelin teams have agreed that they will only race in the US Grand Prix if a chicane is fitted before the banked turn 13 overnight.

Following a post-qualifying meeting, the teams have written a letter to the FIA explaining their position and requesting the construction of a chicane. However that is extremely unlikely to happen, which means that we could see a race take place with just the six Bridgestone cars in it - provided the Michelin teams stick to their agreement.

The bombshell decision came after a meeting of the team principals and Michelin bosses after all 20 cars had completed their qualifying laps. The French company could not guarantee the safety of its tyres, and the fact that this race is in the USA, where litigation is common, made things even more awkward.

The option of using the Barcelona tyres imported from Clermont-Ferrand has, in effect, been abandoned. Teams decided that they had no real information about whether they would last, and also there was no firm knowledge about what penalties might ensue if they were used, although it is understood that the FIA had informally suggested that something like a ten-second stop-and-go rather than exclusion. Thus the chicane option was considered the only viable choice.

"The intensive investigations that have been undertaken in the last 24 hours by our laboratory and technical teams in France and United States concerning the incidents that occurred on the Toyota cars during the free practice test of Friday, have allowed Michelin to reach the following conclusions," an official Michelin statement read.

"Given the combination of oval exit speed of the F1 cars and the subsequent downforces experienced by the tyres Michelin is not able to guarantee that such incidents would not reoccur during race conditions, and therefore Michelin is not able to guarantee the total safety of the drivers.

"As a result, Michelin, in total agreement with our partner teams has asked the FIA that a chicane, allowing the reduction of car speed be installed at the entrance to the oval. In this condition the Indianapolis F1 GP would be able to take place with the tyres that we used during the qualification.

"This proposition answers three Michelin objectives - the safety of the drivers, the support of our partner teams and the interest of the race for the F1 fans."

Bernie Ecclestone has agreed that it makes sense, and he is duty bound to provide a full field of cars for the race for promoter Tony George. However, the practicalities are insurmountable in terms of designing a chicane, building it, and ensuring that it is safe. All those jobs are the responsibility of Charlie Whiting, who has been spotted in deep conversation with Ecclestone during the weekend.

As of 8pm Saturday night, nothing had been done to put the process into motion, and we understand that, while Bernie wants it to happen, there are too many hurdles to be overcome in terms of safety. The cars do, of course, have the downforce configuration and gear ratios for the track as it was designed, and they won't be allowed to change.

The only realistic alternative is that the teams opt to run 'slowly' through the problematic turn 13. That is what Ferrari sources suggest they do, anyway...

Read More