• Tyre news

Pirelli happy with first test

ESPNF1 Staff
August 20, 2010 « Lauda expects Ferrari 'pasting' | »

Pirelli confessed itself satisfied with the progress of its Formula One tyres after the opening day of testing at Mugello, Italy.

Test driver Nick Heidfeld took to the circuit in a Toyota TF109 on Tuesday and Wednesday to evaluate the new front and rear tyre profiles ahead of further runs later this month.

"This was the first step of our return to Formula One and we are very satisfied with how the tyres performed and the information we were able to collect," commented Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director. "We concentrated on finalising the profile and the construction of the front and rear tyres, which is a process that we will continue over the next few tests that we carry out.

"Mugello has quite an abrasive surface with long and medium/high-speed corners as well as hairpins and quick changes of direction so it is quite a good proving ground. We are on target and we come away from this test with lots of data to analyse, which is exactly the situation we hoped to be in."

British driver Ben Hanley was also in attendance, testing the Pirellis on his Dallara GP2/11.

The next test will take place at Monza next week.

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