Pirelli reveals 2017 tyre test schedule

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Pirelli has revealed its tyre test schedule which will see Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes supply modified cars to prepare for the 2017 season.

Next year will see wider tyres introduced, with the dimensions increasing from 245mm to 305mm at the front and from 325mm to 405mm at the rear. With new aerodynamic regulations as well in 2017, three teams will provide modified cars to simulate increased downforce levels in order to test the new tyres.

Pirelli has confirmed testing of the 2017-size tyres will begin on Monday August 1 - the day following the German Grand Prix - with two days of wet tyre testing with Ferrari at Fiorano. This will immediately be followed by two days of slick tyre testing with Red Bull at Mugello on August 3-4.

Testing will resume in September with Ferrari testing slicks in Barcelona at the same time Mercedes is testing slicks at Paul Ricard, both of which take place immediately following the Italian Grand Prix. Testing in October and November will switch to Abu Dhabi, with a final three-day test for all three teams on November 29.

Pirelli has 24 test days to use, with one car running for one day counting as one test day. As a result, the three teams running for one day in Abu Dhabi at the end of the program counts as three test days.

There are also further tests planned with the current size tyres to analyse 2017 compounds, with Mercedes running Pascal Wehrlein in a 2014 car during the in-season test at Silverstone next week. Following that there will be a wet test for Ferrari at Fiorano on July 16 and a slick tyre test for Red Bull at Vallelunga from 18-19 July.

"The three teams testing will be obliged to share all the data gathered during these tests with the other teams for reasons of sporting equity," Pirelli confirmed.

"In total, the testing and development of the 2017 tyres will take place over 10 sessions for a total of 24 days. Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes will be supplying the modified 2015 cars to a precise specification established by the FIA that simulates the performance anticipated for next year, principally including more downforce, a wider track and bigger tyres.

"Each team will undertake testing equivalent to seven days per car, as per the attached schedule, sharing the development programme equally. The three teams will then take to the track for a collective validation test in Abu Dhabi on 29 November, two days after the final grand prix of the season."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.