The 2011 F1 tyre circumstances is unlikely to be resolved by the forthcoming Spanish GP.
The Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, and McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh, said last week that with Bridgestone leaving at the end of this season, the matter of tyres for 2011 should be settled by Barcelona.
"I think we will know something more, I would say 100 per cent, by Barcelona" next weekend, Domenicali said before departing Shanghai.
But after a FOTA meeting on Wednesday, Williams' technical director Sam Michael said he felt a decision by Spain was now unlikely.
The teams coalition was earlier believed to have agreed in principle to be supplied by Michelin 2011 season, but Avon has made a lower-cost proposal that is understood to be backed by Bernie Ecclestone and smaller teams.
Pirelli has also indicated interest in entering Formula 1 next season, but the bulk of Wednesday's FOTA conversation centred on a choice between Michelin and Avon.
"Avon's a lot cheaper (than Michelin) but it's a less proven product although they've done plenty of highly competitive tyres," Michael is quoted as saying by the BBC.
"They (Avon) are a bigger unknown than Michelin because Michelin did it (F1) very recently. But there is a significant difference in cost and you are probably talking over three times the difference in cost to the teams," he said.
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