F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Leclerc on duty for Ferrari 18-inch tyre test at Jerez

Ferrari will call on Charles Leclerc to test Pirelli's 18-inch tyres at Jerez de la Frontera next month, another indication by the Scuderia of the Monegasque's importance to the team's future.

As part of Pirelli's development programme for its 2021-spec tyres, Ferrari will supply an SF90 mule car to the two-day test that will take place in Spain on February 8-9.

Mercedes contributed to the programme last month with two days of running with George Russell in Abu Dhabi, after F1's post-season test at Yas Marina.

Interestingly, Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto has assigned Leclerc, who is under contract with the Italian outfit until the end of 2024, rather than the more experienced Sebastian Vettel whose future with the House of Maranello beyond this season is uncertain.

According to a report from Motorsport.com, Ferrari is set to dedicate a full day of running to Pirelli's 18-inch tyre and then switch its car to 13-inch rubber on the second day in order to compare the collected data.

Pirelli has agreed with the FIA to conduct 25 days of tyre testing this year ahead of the introduction in 2021 of its 18-inch product.

As a reminder, pre-season testing for the 2020 campaign will kick off at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on February 19 and consist of two three-day events.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Austrian GP: Saturday's action in pictures

F1 fans near and far were treated to a thrilling qualifying at the Austrian GP,…

1 hour ago

Hamilton hopes Ferrari can ambush Russell into Turn 1 in Austria

Lewis Hamilton believes that Ferrari’s best chance of disrupting Mercedes in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix…

2 hours ago

Russell: ‘Unbelievable’ Austrian GP pole lap came out of nowhere

George Russell was not about to let a cloud of controversy hang over his Austrian…

2 hours ago

Verstappen says final flyer good enough for P3 before Turn 9 crash

Max Verstappen was left staring at what might have been after a dramatic final qualifying…

3 hours ago

Austria GP: Russell stuns Ferrari with last gasp pole amid yellow flags

George Russell will start the Austrian Grand Prix from pole position after surviving a post-session…

4 hours ago

Austrian Grand Prix - Qualifying results

Full results from qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg, round 8 of the…

4 hours ago