F1 teams to get more choice between Pirelli dry compounds in 2016

As has been widely known for some time, tyre supplier Pirelli has determined that there will be three dry compounds available over the course of each grand prix weekend next year.

Since Pirelli's return to F1 in 2011, there have only been two types of dry tyre on offer, both of which have had to be used during a race.

Next year, teams will choose which two of the compounds they would like to use at an event, offering the scope for varying strategies should there be differing compounds selected by rivals.

Pirelli held a 12-hour F1 test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, as it develops its new-for-2016 ultra-soft compound.

Following a meeting of the WMSC in Paris, it was confirmed that: "The tyre supplier will now provide three dry-weather compounds instead of two.

"Of the 13 sets of dry tyres available to each driver, the tyre supplier will choose two for the race (only one of which must be used in the race), and one set (the softest available) that may only be used in Q3.

"Each driver may then choose their remaining 10 sets from the three available compounds.

"Unless intermediate or wet-weather tyres have been used, a driver must use at least two different specifications of dry-weather tyres - at least one of these must be the one chosen by the tyre supplier."

The WMSC has also announced tweaks to the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) rules.

DRS will now be re-enabled immediately after a VSC period, while the VSC may also be used in practice sessions, so avoiding the need for red flags.