Formula 1 official tyre supplier Pirelli has confirmed plans for the testing of its new 18-inch tyres to be introduced for next season. The Italian manufacturer recently conducted a three-day test with Scuderia Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at Jerez as an early introduction to understanding its much-anticipated new rubber.
Over the course of the coming year, Pirelli will continue with a detailed programme that will take in a further nine test sessions spread over an additional 17 days, and with nine of the teams involved.
Pirelli Formula 1 boss Mario Isola said: “We’re looking forward to resuming our tests for the new 18-inch tyres shortly. But as the Covid-19 pandemic – which led to the suspension of the test programme last year – is not yet over, it’s possible that our planned schedule for this year may have to be modified. As a result, we have a back-up plan, too.”
“Nonetheless, we have put together a programme that should enable us to pick up solidly from where we left off in 2019 and finalise the specification for a new generation of tyre under fresh regulations that will give Formula 1 a very different look next year. Many thanks to all the teams for their support in providing simulations and mule cars, giving us a good base to work from. We will be testing both our slick and wet prototype 18-inch tyres for 2022: we started already at Jerez in Spain for three days with Ferrari, and we will end up at France’s Magny-Cours circuit with Alpine in September.” – he concluded.
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