There are several signs that tend to show that Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli is really close to a deal to supply tires to the Formula 1 team starting next season.

Meetings about the choice of an official tire supplier were held in Monaco. The final choice was to be made between Michelin and Pirelli.

British magazine Autosport reveals that after a number of conference calls involving members of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA), it is understood that Pirelli has emerged as the preferred option for next year.

It is understood the situation is far enough agreed for an announcement to be made as early as this weekend.

Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We'll see, there is this hypothesis. By Friday (tomorrow) we should know something."

Additionally, as part of the deal with the teams, the Italian tire manufacturer would supply 13-inch tires for at least the next two years (same dimension as the current Bridgestones), and it is likely it will receive guarantees that there will be no tire war until 2013 at the earliest.