Formula One official tyre supplier Pirelli confirmed on last week that three teams (McLaren, Mercedes and Renault) will test their 2021 tyres later this year. Pirelli announced on Thursday in Barcelona that Formula 2 would run the 18-inch tyres next season, ahead of the switch to Formula 1 the year after. An extensive testing programme will be conducted by Pirelli to make sure it has sufficient data and information ahead of the 2021 season to understand the rubber.
Mario Isola stated that McLaren, Mercedes & Renault would all be conducting tests with Pirelli to help it understand the new designs that will be used by all teams in two years. Each team will take part in three two day tests in September, October and November of this year, before all teams are given the option to test them in 2020. All teams were offered a chance to test the 18-inch rims this year, but only the three aforementioned outfits agreed to do so.
Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto confirmed that the Maranello team had the option to test, but declined as it did not see the benefit of taking part in a two-day outing.
“Obviously we have been offered. It has been our own choice not to participate,” he said. “We’ve been short on time and the resources for the programme so as Ferrari we decided simply not to take part in this test in 2019 but we are preparing ourselves to do it obviously in 2020. I’m pretty sure that we will have the opportunity to do it.” – Mattia Binotto concluded.
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