Pirelli reveal 18-inch tire test plan across new F1 season
Pirelli has confirmed plans for the testing of its new 18-inch tires to be introduced for next season.
The Italian manufacturer recently conducted a three-day test with Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. at Jerez as an early introduction to understanding its much-anticipated new rubber.
Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola said: “We’re looking forward to resuming our tests for the new 18-inch tires shortly.
“But as the Covid-19 pandemic – which led to the suspension of the test program 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 program that should enable us to pick up solidly from where we left off in 2019 and finalize the specification for a new generation of tire 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 tires 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.”
2022 TIRE DEVELOPMENT TEST CALENDAR | |||
---|---|---|---|
CIRCUIT | DATE | SLICK/WET | TEAM(S) |
Jerez de la Frontera | February, 22 | Slick | Ferrari |
Jerez de la Frontera | February, 23-24 | Wet | Ferrari |
Bahrain | March, 30-31 – April, 1 | Slick | Ferrari (day 1), Alpine (day 2-3) |
Imola | April, 20-21 | Slick | Mercedes |
Barcelona | May, 11-12 | Slick | Alpine (day 1), Red Bull, Alfa Romeo (day 1-2) |
Paul Ricard | May, 25-26 | Wet | Mercedes |
Spielberg | July, 6-7 | Slick | AlphaTauri |
Silverstone | July, 20-21 | Slick | Red Bull (day 1), Aston Martin, Haas (day 1-2) |
Budapest | August, 3-4 | Slick | Mercedes, McLaren (day 1) Ferrari, McLaren (day 2) |
Magny-Cours | September, 15-16 | Wet | Alpine |