01/08/2016
NEWS STORY
Sebastian Vettel kicks off preparations for 2017 as Pirelli's new wider tyres make their debut.
The test programme of the new wider Pirelli tyres for 2017 begins at Fiorano today, where Sebastian Vettel is at the wheel of a Ferrari SF15-T that has been specifically modified to simulate the new aero rules and to accommodate the 2017 size tyres.
The four-time world champion will test all day before handing the car over to Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez on Tuesday.
Following a few installation laps on slick tyres in the morning, Vettel will then try wide intermediate and full wet tyres on an artificially dampened surface.
With a tread that is 25% wider than the current size, particular care is required when it comes to research and development of wet weather tyres, which are capable of evacuating even more water. The development work on both intermediate and full wet tyres will be continued by Gutierrez on Tuesday.
The 2017 rules impose the following dimensions for slick tyres:
305/670-13 at the front (currently 245/660-13)
405/670-13 at the rear (currently 325/660-13)
The Cinturato intermediate will have a diameter of 675 mm while the Cinturato wet will have a diameter of 680 mm. The wheel size remains unchanged at 13 inches.
Red Bull will be the first team to try the 2017 size slick tyres, this dry weather test will take place on 3-4 August at Mugello and will mark the final test before the summer break.
The development programme will begin again in September, when Mercedes (the third team providing a modified car for testing purposes) will take to the track at Paul Ricard.
Each of the three Teams taking part (Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull) will undertake a total of eight days of testing per car between now and the end of November. Each Team will have exactly the same amount of testing as each other for wet and intermediate tyres (two days) as well as slick tyres (six days). The final day of testing for all three teams will be in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 29 November, two days after the final grand prix of the season.
Check out our gallery from Fiorano, here.
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Tyres |
| 1 | Aug 1/2 | Fiorano | Ferrari | Wets |
| 2 | Aug 3/4 | Mugello | Red Bull | Slicks |
| 3 | Sep 6/7 | Barcelona | Ferrari | Slicks |
| 4 | Sep 6/7/8 | Paul Ricard | Mercedes | Slicks |
| 5 | Sep 21/22 | Paul Ricard | Mercedes | Wets |
| 6 | Oct 12/13 | Barcelona | Mercedes | Slicks |
| 7 | Oct 14/15/16 | Abu Dhabi | Red Bull | Slicks |
| 8 | Nov 2/3 | Abu Dhabi | Red Bull | Wets |
| 9 | Nov 14/15/16 | Abu Dhabi | Ferrari | Slicks |
| 10 | Nov-29 | Abu Dhabi | All | Final Valid |