Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

F1 juniors shine in thrilling F2 2026 title fight

FIA F2
Spa-Francorchamps
F1 juniors shine in thrilling F2 2026 title fight

Is the 2026 WRC title fight the most unpredictable in a generation?

Feature
WRC
Rally Estonia
Is the 2026 WRC title fight the most unpredictable in a generation?

The key factor as Alonso weighs up F1 future

Formula 1
The key factor as Alonso weighs up F1 future

What Red Bull's succession plans for Lambiase and Marko reveal about team's F1 future

Formula 1
Belgian GP
What Red Bull's succession plans for Lambiase and Marko reveal about team's F1 future

Mercedes "struggling to understand" Russell's deployment issues in F1 2026

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Mercedes "struggling to understand" Russell's deployment issues in F1 2026

The expectation on Aston Martin's shoulders as it prepares to debut its Hungarian GP updates

Feature
Formula 1
Belgian GP
The expectation on Aston Martin's shoulders as it prepares to debut its Hungarian GP updates

Quartararo's move to Honda for MotoGP 2027 has been confirmed

MotoGP
Quartararo's move to Honda for MotoGP 2027 has been confirmed

Honda signs Moto2 frontrunner Alonso for 2027

MotoGP
Honda signs Moto2 frontrunner Alonso for 2027

Nearly 100 F1 2017 tyre prototypes tried in Abu Dhabi testing

Pirelli said it tested approximately 96 different prototypes on the final day of its 2017 Formula 1 tyre testing programme

For the first time this season, all three mule cars from Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari ran on track at the same time in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

It was the 24th day of testing, which has allowed Pirelli to complete around 12,000km of running to help define next year's bigger and wider tyres.

Lewis Hamilton started the running for Mercedes but ended the day early because he felt unwell, with Pascal Wehrlein stepping in.

Kimi Raikkonen was in the Ferrari while Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo split the driving duties for Red Bull.

They tested a number of different compounds and structures but as it was a blind test, they were unaware of what they were running.

Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery said the tyre supplier completed its programme at Yas Marina but insisted there is still a lot to do ahead of the 2017 season.

"For the final test of the year, we had five F1 race drivers sample our 2017 prototypes as we completed the development programme with three cars at the same time.

"Now the hard work begins as we collate and analyse the results of our 24 days and approximately 12,000 kilometres of testing in order to define the tyres with which we will go racing next year.

"These will then be run on the actual 2017 cars for the first time during the official group tests next February.

"Our latest test in Abu Dhabi went according to plan.

"We were able to collect the data we needed thanks to the three mule cars from Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari; without whom it would have been impossible to carry out this intense development programme."

Pre-season testing runs February 27-March 2 and March 7-10 at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

Previous article Kimi Raikkonen can't understand Nico Rosberg F1 doubters
Next article Formula 1 team bosses name Lewis Hamilton 2016's best driver

Top Comments