Ferrari and Red Bull test wide boy Pirelli rubber ahead of 2017 introduction

Red Bull and Ferrari became the first squads to sample Pirelli’s new wider 2017 tyres when they conducted blind tyre testing last week.

Ferrari ran the new wet compound tyres fitted to a modified 2015 chassis at Fiorano with Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Gutierrez driving. Red Bull then ran Sebastien Buemi on the slick rubber at Mugello for two days.

The tests mark the first four days of Pirelli’s allotted 24 days of testing with the new size covers.

Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery said: “The big challenge now is trying to get an understanding of the car, and how close it is in terms of downforce compared to what we are going to see next year [with the new regulations allowing larger, wider wings].

“The teams have been given a set of regulations to allow them to create a car, but it’s not set they will be able to achieve the required downforce.

“The car doesn’t look like what it’s going to be next year, and that’s the point.

“It’s a hybrid of a hybrid, and that was done so they wouldn’t be able to start working on next year’s car.”