Pirelli can find F1 teams four seconds per lap for 2017 cars

Although plans were announced earlier this year to reduce lap times by five to six seconds for '17 via a range of methods, it is understood that teams are still yet to agree on what to do.

Part of the problem is in order for Pirelli to test the wider front and rear tyres being requested, in conjunction with the more aggressive aero package due to come into force, the Italian tyre manufacturer would require a 'mule car' built to 2017 specifications.

Pirelli claims it can comfortably test the loads likely to be in evidence in '17 given the increase in downforce via simulation, but when it comes to the compounds - as they will inevitably alter - they have to be track tested.

Pirelli motorsport director Hembery believes big gains could be made purely through changing the tyres, rather than adopting significant changes to car design.

"If you want to increase performance, we can do that," Hembery told Autosport.

"Just by the tyre size change we will probably gain two seconds.

"If you then gave us a proper testing programme, probably by the tyres alone, and with a natural evolution of the current car, we can deliver four seconds, and [the teams] won't need to do much else.

"It would be cheaper for everybody, and cheaper if they helped us do that than for everybody to redesign all the cars.

"Now maybe I'm missing something as to what else has been asked, but if it's just performance, then we can do that.

"And probably then we can provide a variety of compounds, maybe some in the direction as some have suggested where you can do stints of 15 laps, push as hard as you want and then you'll hit a cliff and change."

Hembery already has confirmation from some teams that altering a current car to accommodate the wider '17 tyres - 300mm front and 400mm rear - would be feasible.

In turn, that would allow Pirelli to go testing in 2016 and at least ensure a step is taken towards more dramatic-looking cars, even if the planned aero package has to be delayed.

Hembery added: "As a minimum you could just say 'change the tyre sizes and stick with the current regulations'.

"It then becomes a modification of the suspension.

"At least three teams have said they could modify a current car to at least take the tyre sizes if they were given enough notice without going the full packet of changing all the aero."