Formula 1's first pre-season test in Barcelona will provide teams with some wet running in order to put sample Pirelli's new rain tyre compound.
Pirelli was granted a dedicated two-day wet weather test with a mule car ahead of the season, but the Italian manufacturer has insisted that all teams sample the rubber before heading to Australia.
A change in the sporting regulations this year will see standing starts taking place after a race has been launched under a the Safety Car. Pirelli is thus keen for drivers to experience the new rubber rather than sampling it for the first time in real racing conditions.
Wet track simulation, because of the difficulty of replicating conditions, has never been of great appeal to the teams. But with larger tyres and the many unknowns introduced this year by the regulations, the Barcelona test will be welcomed.
Furthermore, the performance of Pirelli's wet weather tyres was criticized by many drivers after last year's Brazilian GP, and F1's supplier worked intensively over the winter to produce an efficient and performing compound.
"The only area where we will be working during this season is with the wet tyres, and we are trying to improve the warm up time of the wet tyres – especially in relation to the standing starts," Pirelli's Paul Hembery said earlmier this year.
"So that is one area where we will have development during the season."
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