Pirelli denies FIA relationship already strained

Pirelli has played down suggestions the new F1 tyre supplier’s relationship with the FIA is already off to a bad start.

Until Pirelli received the green light by the World Motor Sport Council, it is believed FIA president Jean Todt was favouring the return in 2011 of Michelin.

But chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera told reporters: "It was the FIA who took this decision, so this means our relationship is perfect and couldn’t be better.

"There is no problem between us and the FIA," he insisted.

Tronchetti Provera also addressed rumours that, in addition to testing with a GP2 car, Pirelli might buy Toyota’s unraced 2010 car.

"We have a series of offers which were presented to us," he is quoted by 422race.com. "Toyota’s is one of the offers available on the market.

"This doesn’t mean we will take it, because we also have other options."

And head of research and development Maurizio Boiocchi admitted the possibility of a shift in the future from the current 13-inch tyres seen on the grid.

"The design phase for 2011 and 2012 is already quite advanced, so the changes can be introduced only starting from 2013," he said.

"This will be discussed over the next two years."