Michelin to quit Formula One after 2006

French tyre group Michelin yesterday said it was ending its involvement with Formula One racing after the 2006 season following a decision by the organising body to prefer only one tyre supplier.

This leaves Bridgestone of Japan as the single supplier.

"This decision is the result of the realisation that there is a profound disagreement between the sports philosophy that has always been driving Michelin and the management practices of the F1 authorities," company boss Edouard Michelin said in a statement.

He said the uncertainty thrown up by the F1 authorities did not give sufficient guarantees to justify long-term investments.

Michelin supplies seven of the 10 Formula One teams and Bridgestone the rest and in 2006 they will have an equal split as Williams and Toyota are leaving Michelin. The French tyre maker, the world's biggest, clashed with the FIA over the US Grand Prix fiasco in June when their seven teams failed to start due to tyre safety concerns at Indianapolis.