F1 test in Barcelona: 2016 Pirelli tires also tested

Pirelli F1 – All the 2015 Pirelli slick compounds took to the track during the first in-season tests which concluded yesterday in Barcelona, ​​on the Montmelò circuit.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, was the fastest during these two days of testing, setting the fastest time on Tuesday morning on P Zero Yellow soft tyres.

The teams mainly used medium and hard tyres. The supersoft compound also hit the track for just a few laps, which will be used for the first time in competition this year in the Monaco Grand Prix in a few days.

Mercedes, Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Ferrari carried out specific tire tests for Pirelli, despite the change in regulation which no longer provides for mandatory tire tests for the teams during the year. However, this allowed Pirelli to test some evolutions for the 2016 tires on a well-known circuit.

The environmental conditions during the two days of testing remained dry, with temperatures similar to those seen in the race last Sunday.

Many reserve drivers were seen on the track, who thus had the opportunity to try the latest evolutions of Pirelli tyres.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director: “We have tried some solutions for 2016, thanks to the four teams who agreed to carry out a tire test for us on this circuit. Even if this year, in fact, the regulation does not provide for specific tests dedicated solely to tyres, the data collected in these two days will help us make some evolutions to next season's tyres. Many kilometers were covered and this allowed us to collect quite a bit of data. The track, with more rubber than the race, recorded a slight reduction in lap times compared to Sunday."