F1 tyres designed with 2015 “in mind” tested in Bahrain

Pirelli reports the completion of the first in-season Formula One test using 2014 cars. The Italian tyre maker brought around 250 experimental tyres to the test in Bahrain this week; it says these tyres were designed exclusively with 2015 in mind and included eight new constructions and six new compounds. Testing took place over two days, with Caterham participating on Tuesday 8 April and then Mercedes and Williams the next day. A total of 110 laps and around 595 kilometres were covered on the experimental tyres. Only one single variable was tested at a time – a new compound was tested with a current construction, for example, and vice versa. In order to provide a benchmark the teams alternated prototype runs with baseline runs on the existing tyres.

“The opportunity to test with the current cars is something that we have always wished for and it was vital to have this written into the regulations this year,” shared Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery. “We made useful progress throughout both days of the prototype tyre test, trying out a number of solutions with 2015 in mind, in demanding conditions. Having accumulated this valuable data over two days, we will now analyse it carefully to assess the best development direction for the next in-season test in Barcelona, where we expect to see further evolutions in car performance.”