Common Interest

By Andrew Hooper
September 6 2002

 

 

  
Common Interest
 
With Ferrari enjoying a dominate relationship with Bridgestone it has been suggested by McLaren's David Whitmarsh that McLaren and WilliamsF1 should work together in order to produce Michelin tyres that are suited to both cars.

Whitmarsh did make it clear that such mutual co-operation would only cover tyre research.

Whitmarsh said in an recent interview with Reuters: "We're working bloody hard to beat them (Williams) and they're working very hard to beat us, so we're not going to share everything but where there's a clear common interest - and there's none more obvious than tyres at the moment - then we are going to work together.

"We've got to recognise that we've got a common interest to get on and work with development of the tyres. Providing we can harmonise our requirements then I think we can do a better job than one team. But clearly it requires us both to want the same things.

"I think there's an awful lot of things where, when we speak to Williams and share some notes, actually we are much more closely aligned in our requests and our requirements."

Whitmarsh added: "We could say, we trust the way in which you go about testing, we trust the feedback you're going to give us, so you go away and do some work on the wets or work on the tyres for Monza and we'll work on the tyres for Indianapolis."

"I think everyone's sensible enough to realise that's the best way to work.

"If we can work with any team, it’s Williams. The relationship between Williams and McLaren has always been competitive but with a tremendous amount of mutual respect and pragmatism."

Whether WilliamsF1 would take up such an offer is yet to be seen.
 
 
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