Ferrari begin 2017 tyre testing on new wider Pirellis
Sebastian Vettel has been trying out the new wider treads
Tuesday 2 August 2016 09:31, UK
Ferrari begun tyre testing for 2017 on Monday, with Sebastian Vettel taking to the track in Italy to try out the new treads.
Fresh from his fifth-place finish at Hockenheim on Sunday, the German driver was out in Fiorano to check out the new Pirelli Formula 1 tyres for next season, which are around 25 per cent wider than the 2016 tyres.
Vettel tested all day and completed 120 laps, driving on the slick tyres in the morning before using the Pirelli intermediate and full wet tyres on an artificially-dampened surface.
Next year the front tyres will increase from 245mm to 305mm, while the rears will go from 325mm to 405mm. They are aimed at cutting up to four seconds per lap.
The development work on both intermediate and full wet tyres will be continued by Haas driver Esteban Gutierrez on Tuesday.
Don't miss the F1 Report: German GP review and half-term report on Wednesday at 8.30pm on Sky F1 with Natalie Pinkham, Marc Priestley and Mike Gascoyne
