If the little spats that develop between drivers and teams seem a little over the top sometimes, if the barbs thrown by Ron Dennis in the direction of Jean Todt seem a little blunt, a little lacking in sting, then get ready to rumble. Formula One rows are about to get about as nasty as they can get - there's another tyre war looming.

Hoving into view like a blackly crackling, black stormfront, the rumbling clash of tyre giants Bridgestone and F1 returnees Michelin is likely to make the occasional protest from McLaren regarding wing heights or Michael Schumacher's start line tactic seem like a bout of kindergarten name-calling. When tyre companies battle it out, it gets messy.

The first salvoes have already been fired. As early as Magny Cours last year, Michelin boss Pierre Duspasquier threatened to bring protest chaos to grands prix unless the FIA laid down hard and fast rules about tyre wear. The forthright Frenchman intimated that tyres could deliberately be fashioned to completely degrade any grooves after a number of laps, which would in effect give a driver banned slick tyres. He said the FIA must institute a minimum tread depth or else his team would protest every race result.

So far the FIA has refused to comply, insisting they have other ways of monitoring the teams' activities. But Duspasquier's threat holds. We could see a season of GPs wrecked by racing results subsequently overturned in FIA courtrooms. That's how tyre wars go.

While Michelin's threats are not without substance, and while the team has vast resources and a impressive pedigree in the sport - having notched up 59 race-wins in a short, six-year burst from 1978 to 1984 - their strike-rate is, however, second to that of Bridgestone. Admittedly, the latter's 42 wins in just three seasons includes two years they had it to themselves.

But Michelin's last grand prix was 15 years ago and the team is realistic enough to concede that Bridgestone's three years in the paddock gives the Japanese a huge advantage.

"With three years disadvantage we don't expect to be there straight away," admitted Michelin's chief engineer, Pascal Vasselon. "There will be days when we screw up, badly. It's part of the learning process."

But insiders claim Michelin are quick learners and rarely have to be told something twice. Bobby Rahal, whose Jaguar team has opted for Michelins this year, is convinced the French manufacturer can cause some upsets this year.

"If you have a good tyre that's running well it can negate a lot of disadvantages," he said. "It's entirely plausible that the first McLaren or Ferrari could qualify seventh or eighth on the grid."

That is unlikely to happen early on. Despite Michelin's insistence that they have a worldbeating wet weather tyre, they are likely to struggle at traditionally dry Melbourne on a smooth surface with sticky compounds at the track Bridgestone have had three years run at.

Besides, Bridgestone are no pushovers. The Japanese giant, the largest tyre manufacturer in the world, undoubtedly have some surprises up their sleeves. But as in all such contests the reigning champ is never accorded as much nerve, courage and creative athleticism as a plucky challenger.

Michelin will surely go in swinging, but Bridgestone have honed their guard well in three years. A few short rounds won't take the title. It's going to be a long bout.