Pirelli tyre testing continues at two venues this week
Tuesday 6 September 2016 18:16, UK
Mercedes have become the latest team to trial F1's wider 2017 tyres, as the world champions simulated next season's downforce levels.
Pascal Wehrlein took the wheel of a modified version of last year's title-winning W06 for the first of three days of testing for F1 tyre supplier Pirelli at Paul Ricard in France.
Changes to aerodynamic regulations for next season are designed to lower lap times by up to five seconds, with Pirelli altering their tyres to both look more dramatic and allow drivers to push throughout races.
Ferrari are conducting a simultaneous two-day tyre test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, with Kimi Raikkonen at the wheel on Day One.
The two teams, along with Red Bull, are conducting Pirelli's pre-2017 tyre testing with six more sessions planned this year.
Don't miss the F1 Report for the analysis of the Italian GP. The Telegraph's Daniel Johnson and former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley join Natalie Pinkham in the studio at 8.30pm on Wednesday.
