For the second time in our 14 years in Formula One, we faced competition again. Our biggest rival, Michelin, had returned. You might think all tyres look the same – black and round – but a slightly closer glance is enough to reveal the difference between the Bridgestone and Michelin approaches. Hamashima explains: "We place more importance on cornering, so our tyre shoulders are rounded when you look from the front. Michelin tyres look square. They are designed to give more traction on stop and go type circuits. Of course, we had also developed that type of tyre, but they weren't as fast. I guess that's the drawback of being sole supplier - you don't push as hard." The difference in approach is also shown by the way the tyres are fitted to the cars. Bridgestone tyres slope out at an angle, while Michelin are vertical. Hamashima explains: "Our tyres are meant to behave during cornering something like a rolling barrel, while Michelin's are designed to use side force when cornering to make the contact patch as large as possible. That's why they are square." With regards to the front tyres, you could say that Bridgestone focuses on handling, while Michelin focuses on braking.