Formula 1’s tyre supplier Pirelli expects the pace of next year’s cars to increase by three seconds per lap.
Pirelli officially unveiled its new, 25% wider 2017 tyre range on Thursday following extensive on-track testing with Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari.
With increased downforce levels and wider tyres for next season, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery believes lap times will increase significantly in 2017.
“I’d like to thank all the teams that have allowed us to develop our new wider tyres for 2017, using their mule cars,” he said.
“We’ve made huge steps forward since trying the new tyres out for the first time at the beginning of August and we’re pleased by the results obtained with the majority of the specifications.
“We know however that the work is just beginning. The aerodynamic progress made by next year’s cars will lower lap times by around five seconds compared to 2015, and about three seconds compared to this year.
“The new cars that will take to the track for the first time in February will have a downforce increase of more than 20 per cent: much more than we have seen with the mule cars.
“And that progress will continue throughout the whole of next season. So the next phase of our development, aimed at 2018 when the cars will be faster still, already begins in February.”
