Damon Hill has said that the decision by Goodyear to withdraw from Formula One at the end of the 1998 season could adversely affect his chances of winning races with the Jordan-Mugen Honda team.

The American tyre company's move has been prompted by their disapproval of the new rules which require grooved tyres in F1 from the start of next season. It looks set to leave the door open for a F1 supply monopoly for Bridgestone, ironically the tyres which Hill was using on his Arrows-Yamaha throughout 1997.

"I think Goodyear's decision is very worrying," said Hill. "I am certainly not too happy about that as it does not bode well for their development programme next season as they ease down their involvement. I just hope that they will sustain the pace of the development work."

However, Jordan team insiders believe that Hill's worries might be misplaced. "What you've got to remember is that Goodyear could have paid off all their teams and withdrawn at the end of this season," said Ian Phillips, the Jordan commercial director. "Instead, they've taken the attitude that they will stay in for another season and confront Bridgestone head-on under the new rules. We all believe that Goodyear will be fully competitive in 1998."

Goodyear also have the advantage in that all F1's established top teams are contracted to use their tyres. Williams, McLaren, Ferrari, Benetton and Jordan are scheduled to use their tyres through to the end of 1998, while Bridgestone's best bets must be seen as the Prost-Peugeot, Arrows and Stewart-Ford operations, all of whom have yet to score their first race victory.

It remains to be seen whether or not Michelin will enter F1 to take on Bridgestone in 1998. The French tyre company withdrew from F1 at the end of 1984 after McLaren used their tyres to win 12 of the season's 16 grands prix.