Pirelli completes first day of Barcelona tyre test with Ferrari and Mercedes

Following final weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari and Mercedes stayed on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to finish an vital prototype testing with the 2 groups set to proceed their work in the present day.

The opening day of final weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix was an vital one for Pirelli because it provided groups with a brand new specification of slick tyres that may make its debut on the British Grand Prix.

After evaluating the efficiency positive factors and growth price of the present F1 vehicles, the Italian producer determined to introduce a brand new specification that may sport a sterner, harder tyre building with the compound varieties staying the identical. The new specification will see the debut of supplies which were initially deliberate for 2024.

Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Mario Isola commented: “Initially this was scheduled for 2024, but its introduction has now been brought forward to make the structure more resistant to fatigue, as the loads generated by the current cars have already reached the targets set for the end of the season after only a few races,” Isola stated.

After testing the brand new building through the Friday’s follow session at Barcelona, Pirelli is now evaluating prototypes tyres for subsequent season on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Mercedes and Ferrari are the 2 outfits that stayed with Pirelli at Barcelona. The two groups are testing Pirelli’s 2024 tyres that don’t require the use of tyre blankets. Following this test session, Pirelli will proceed its work with Red Bull after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone earlier than making the ultimate determination with the FIA whether or not they section out the tyre heaters or additional postpone the concept.

On the first day of testing, Charles Leclerc was behind the wheel of the SF23. The Monegasque, who endured a particularly disappointing and tough Spanish Grand Prix, racked up a complete of 167 laps with his greatest time being a 1m18.197s.

The five-time F1 race winner shared the 4.6km monitor with George Russell, who notched up a complete of 151 laps. The Briton, who secured a third-place end at Barcelona, posted a 1m18.400s yesterday.

The test is ready to proceed in the present day with Carlos Sainz driving for Ferrari and Mick Schumacher making his debut behind the wheel of the Mercedes W14.