Teams barred from using post-season tyre test for development

2015 F1 season

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Formula One teams will not be allowed to use the post-season tyre test at Yas Marina to test new development parts, Pirelli has announced.

The official F1 tyre supplier will determine the programme for each car at the 12-hour test, which will take place two days after the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Pirelli will use the test to develop a new ‘Ultrasoft’ compound. However the all the tyres used by the teams will be unbranded and will not come from their 2015 testing allocation.

“A very full testing program is planned due to the limited amount of time available,” said Pirelli in a statement. “The full results will not be available until some days after the test is concluded, as all the data from the teams is collected and analysed.”

“For all these reasons Pirelli and the teams have with regret taken the joint decision to keep the test closed to the media. Pirelli will, however, be releasing a full press release at the end of the test.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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17 comments on “Teams barred from using post-season tyre test for development”

  1. No surprise, can you imagine the pinnacle of motorsport and motorsport technology being allowed to test new parts, increase performance, and develop new skills resulting in a faster more advanced sport

    1. Oh come on. It’s a tyre test. Pirelli don’t want that muddled by the teams messing with their cars.

    2. Development testing vs cost is another debate and has no place here. Pirelli is paying most of the test, it’s quite logical they try to get the most relevant data as possible. And introducing new parts in the mix would make the analysis much more complicated for Pirelli.

      The fact the test is closed to the media is however a bit regrettable, we could have a first look at the tendency. Let’s hope the report will really be a full one (time for each team and comparison to super soft tyres).

      1. The fact the test is closed to the media is however a bit regrettable, we could have a first look at the tendency.

        The tire tests Goodyear does here in the States are under a closed-facility policy as well, to be honest there isn’t anything exciting going on during tire tests. A car goes on track, runs a few laps, comes in to the pits. Another car goes out, runs a few laps, comes in to the pits. Rinse and repeat, number of laps varies. Occasionally two or a few cars go out and run together for a few laps, come in to the pits.

    3. You are being disingenuous, at best

    4. @scuderia29, testing restrictions have been brought in across multiple motorsport disciplines, not just in F1 – a wide range of series, from the WEC through to touring cars and junior formula series, have restrictions on testing. Irrespective of whether they are “open” regulations or operate a standard chassis, testing restrictions have become the norm across most disciplines, so F1 is hardly unique in that situation.

      Equally, I have to ask whether your particular interest in opening up testing stems from your support for Ferrari – a team which has a considerable incentive to push for laxer testing regulations given that it gives them a disproportionately large advantage.

    5. Only the top teams will have the money to run this test. Expect just 3 cars on the test. Ferrari Merc and Williams.

      1. The tyre test will have been included in the season budget since before the start of the season. And I’m pretty sure even the smaller teams can scrape together the €0.00 required to transport themselves from Yas Marina to Yas Marina.

  2. Mark in Florida
    14th November 2015, 13:06

    +1 Saved me from having to write it. F1 has become pitiful.

    1. Because Pirelli and the teams all agreed to make the test as thorough and honest as possible?

  3. Because reasons…

  4. Really??! WHY??!! Did they explain why, in an intelligent way?

    1. It’s a tyre test, not a car test; the best results only come when the cars remain the same.

  5. It makes sense. It it is a tyre thest then it is a tyre test. Teams should keep the setup the same or change it as Pirelli wants, not try out some crazy new parts or turn the engine to maximum to test it’s durability. And blow the engine and end the day.

    Pirelli, F1, FIA and teams have their agreement and Pirelli deserves such tests to bring good quality tires that have wear to them. In my personal opinion most Pirelli problems are down to no testing. Tyres in all other ways are good – they wear as ordered. Maybe should wear more and have the possibility for 1 stop versus 3 stops etc.

  6. Tyre tests should be done with a neutral chasis. When tested out, they should be supplied to the teams when car testing starts. If u ask me all this fake show with the tyres is just ridiculus. There should be more different suppliers, with determined components for the tyres. Only soft and hard tires and intermidiate and wet. The components should be determined and standardised, while type of manufacturing and physical changes should be free to use for every supplier seperatly as they want/know.

    1. Tyre tests should be done with a neutral chasis.

      Who’s going to make a complete F1 car that will never be raced?

  7. There are plenty of F1 cars that have been built but never been raced: MP4/18, the six-wheeler Williams, the Harvey Postlethwaite Honda, the 2010 Toyota, etc.

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