Pastor Maldonado and Nico Hulkenberg satisfied with new tyres' safety after test

Pastor Maldonado believes Pirelli's Hungarian GP-spec tyres represent a step forward in terms of reliability, although both the Williams driver and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg insist it is too early to say how they will impact on performance.

And although this week's test is taking place on the exact same circuit as last month's now infamous 2013 British GP, Sauber driver Hulkenberg says it's difficult to make the most accurate of comparisons given so many variables are at play. "A lot of factors are different here. The conditions are quite a lot hotter to the race weekend, the tyres are different, we had an update on the car. So many things and it's difficult to filter everything out. But the car still feels the same pretty much," the German said. "I think we really have to start a race weekend and see how it develops." Coincidentally or not, Sauber made a step forward when the Kevlar-belted tyres were introduced at the Nurburgring and Hulkenberg added: "Now everything should be sorted in terms of safety and these are the tyres provided by Pirelli and we have to adapt as quick as we can, just like everybody else."