FR3.5: September decision on 18-inch wheels

Renault and Michelin will decide in September if the Formula Renault 3.5 series will switch to 18-inch wheels for the 2016 season.

Michelin has been vocal in recent weeks of its belief that Formula 1 should switch to larger wheel rims, and the French manufacturer has been developing such a tire with Renault Sport for more than six months.

Both FR3.5 and GP2 (which is supplied by Pirelli) demonstrated 18-inch wheels on their cars during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, and Michelin is now in the stages of fine-tuning the new tires over the summer.

"We are working in full connection with Renault on this project," Michelin customer racing director Philippe Mussati told AUTOSPORT. "The goal is to decide in September, with Renault, if we go for next season.

"We still have progress to do, but we already know that the tire we have is final. What can change is the compound, and some components we can make differently. Obviously, we are still in a development program and we are not finished yet."

Mussati backed up comments made by Michelin's motorsport director Pascal Couasnon that the current tire and wheel dimensions used on major open-wheel formulae need to be overhauled.

"We want to blow a new wind into this market that was sleeping for many years and needs some refreshing," Mussati added. "We don't want to be wrong and we want the regulation changed. We are innovating.

"We have a specific size for this car [FR3.5] – it exists – and we know that next year we can press the button and go."

Renault's decision later this year is likely to be influenced by the direction Formula 1 takes for its next tire contract from 2017-'19.

Renault Sport competition director Jean-Pascal Dauce said: "We are all particularly fond of innovations. If the elite [F1] decide to change the dimensions of their tires, we will be ready [to change] to confirm our status as the leading driver development program."

Former FR3.5 and GP2 racer Nigel Melker, who completed a demonstration run on the 18-inch wheels at Monaco last weekend, was impressed with the feel of what Michelin has developed.

"I thought it would have felt completely different but it was quite good," Melker said. "In braking and turning into the corner it is more direct, so it is a little bit different. The lateral grip and acceleration is really good."

Originally on Autosport.com