Pirelli to stage rubber tests ahead of F1 changes

Pirelli is ramping up its plans between the end of this season and the start of the 2014 campaign to ensure it is not left wanting going into Formula One’s new era.

The Italian tyre manufacturer is eager to run a number of tests on a range of rubber as F1 prepares for the switch to 1.6-litre turbo-charged V6 powertrains from the current 2.4-litre V8s.

The change will have a profound impact on the tyres, and whilst Pirelli is eager to be less visible than it has been this season, the planning is crucial.

“We’ll do some wet testing at Paul Ricard (a circuit in France) at the end of September,” said motorsport director Paul Hembery.

“We want to still do something at the end of the season, to stay on in Brazil (in November) if we can. We need to find a way of doing it, and we will also go to Abu Dhabi or Bahrain in December.

“The teams are obviously trying to finalise their pre-season test schedule, and from what we understand it is almost certain we’re going to have a test in a warm country.

“It’s not known yet whether it’s Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Bahrain.

“If we take out any political comment regarding Bahrain and look at what would be better for us from our point of view then Bahrain would be ideal.

“That would allow us to get an understanding of what the new car is going to be like at one of the more extreme circuits in extreme heat, but all that is still being defined.”