Michelin struggles with conflist of interest

[KC]

Michelin has reached a conflict of interest problem with supplying French team Prost. They are very keen to sponsor Prost in their efforts with tires, but are struggling with the teams choice of engines for next year. Prost will be using customer Ferrari power and Ferrari are under contract to rival Bridgestone. Michelin fears that information may be changing hands between Prost and Ferrari that could be detrimental to their efforts.

[LYM]

KC shouldn't it be the other way round? Bridgestone has the most up-to-date information on the functions and designs of racing tyres.

[Valentinik]

The point is that being an engine supplier Ferrari will be in a position to force Prost into giving up info without sending any back the other way. Ferrari will find out the pressures the Michelins are running, their wear rate, etc which will give them an insight into Williams and Benneton, something that Mclaren will have to guess at.
Michelins concern is that this info will go back to Bridgestone, so that when Michelin introduce something revolutionary, Bridgestone will soon know all about it.

[RIKB]

Trouble is that to come into the sport, Michelin have had to undertake to supply 60% of the field. In addition to this, bridgestone were given the choice of who they wished to drop.

Seemingly, the only way to satisfactorily resolve this would be if Arrows were prepared to swap contracts with Prost.

Otherwise, Michelin and Prost are stuck with each other, like it or not.

If that is the case, then will Michelin withold technical info from Prost? Telling them the absolute minimum?

[LYM]

Originally posted by RIKB

If that is the case, then will Michelin withold technical info from Prost? Telling them the absolute minimum?

Bridgestone doesn't have to know much-just the testing qualifying and racing data will be enough. And Michelin cannot hold back those information, can they?