©Pirelli Motorsport
Red Bull reserve driver Pierre Gasly has completed a mammoth 277 laps of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit during Pirelli's latest slick tyre test ahead of the 2017 season.
Driving a modified version of the 2015-spec RB11 that simulates next year’s increased downforce loads, the Frenchman enjoyed hot and sunny weather throughout the three-day test to clock 81, 103, and 93 laps respectively.
The warm conditions were in stark contrast to what Mercedes had encountered in Barcelona earlier this week when rain and low temperatures had hindered Nico Rosberg and Pascal Wehrlein’s progress at the Spanish Grand Prix venue, with both driver combining for only 91 laps across two days.
Pirelli, which has been pushing to have next year’s pre-season testing held in Bahrain to ensure optimum preparations for the radical bodywork and tyre changes slated for introduction, was quick to use Barcelona’s cold weather to back his stance.
Red Bull is one of three teams, along with Ferrari and Mercedes, that supply mule cars to help Pirelli test its wider 2017-spec products, with the dimensions increasing from 245mm to 305mm at the front and from 325mm to 405mm at the rear.
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