Formula One’s tyre supplier Pirelli have been given extra testing time to evaluate their extreme wet-weather tyres ahead of the 2017 season.
An additional two-day test will take place before the start of official pre-season testing in a bid to gain further feedback on Pirelli’s extreme wet-weather tyres, which were criticised several times during the 2016 season. One of the existing ‘mule’ cars from Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull Racing are likely to be used.
As well as an extra dedicated test, one of the pre-season test days is very likely to be ear-marked for further wet-weather testing. If rain does not fall at the test, then tanker trucks may be used to soak the track.
With wider tyres coming into the sport as part of a technical regulation revamp in 2017, Pirelli were granted several test sessions throughout 2016 in order to develop the new tyres, using modified 2016 cars from Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari. All other teams will sample 2017-spec tyres for the first time at the opening test in Barcelona.
The first official pre-season test runs from Monday 27th February to Thursday 2nd March, with the second test running from Tuesday 7th March – Friday 10th March.
