F1 urged to increase testing ahead of 2017 rule changes
Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery has called on Formula 1 to radically alter its testing programme ahead of the 2017 season given the dramatic rule changes planned
Hembery will learn in September or October whether Pirelli has won the right to continue supplying tyres to F1 from 2017, or if rival Michelin is to take up the challenge.
If the Italian manufacturer signs the deal, Hembery believes it then becomes a priority his company conducts proper testing next year given the rear tyres, in particular, are due to increase in width from the current 375mm to 420mm.
Hembery said: "If we stay in the sport it will really need to look at how it is going to go testing.
"With the changes currently foreseen for '17, you will have a wider rear tyre, I guess a modification to the front tyre, and cars that will have a very different aero load.
"Because the changes are so vast you don't want to end up in Barcelona in March [at the first test] finding out you've got major problems.
"So there needs to be a way found to do testing before that."
For 2016, minor changes are in the pipeline, which Hembery says are due to be made public soon, and will help add another variant to the show.
Under review is a revision of the hard tyre, the possibility of a super-super-soft compound and the teams being given a degree more flexibility when it comes to compound choice over the course of a grand prix weekend.
Part of the reasoning behind the alterations is Pirelli has fallen behind this year on its brief of delivering races with two-to-three pitstops, with several grands prix so far this year only featuring one stop per driver.
"We are still having to develop some ideas where we can address the harder tyre which is in need of a modification," said Hembery. "It needs to be much closer to the medium.
"Also a product that can be used on the true street circuits - Monaco, Montreal, Singapore - where you need probably a much softer tyre than the current super-soft.
"Another idea, which we believe will be ready for '16, is where there will be a freer choice for teams, but without putting ourselves in any difficulties.
"That's our hope, and we want that to maybe come out very quickly now.
"We are getting very close to a final decision. That seems feasible."
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