Michelin will only return to F1 next year if it has at least one tyre supplier to compete against.
With Bridgestone pulling out as the official sole supplier, the French marque Michelin has admitted it is considering returning to the sport it left at the end of 2006.
It has been rumoured that Michelin not only wants to be paid to supply 18-inch tyres in 2011, but that it would welcome a rival competitor.
At the opening round of the 2010 Le Mans series at Le Castellet, a senior Michelin spokesman said: "Certain things have to be done, we must have competition, we do not want to be the only supplier."
Reports suggest that if the F1 rim size is increased to Le Mans-type specification as per Michelin’s wishes, Yokohama and Dunlop may also be interested.