• Abu Dhabi Pirelli test

Pirellis 'seem to suit my style a bit more' - Schumacher

The majority of F1 drivers have reported positive feedback after the first Pirelli tyre test, although most have acknowledged there is plenty of room for development over the winter.

Pirelli has replaced Bridgestone as Formula One's sole tyre supplier and, after development work over the summer using last year's Toyota chassis, it took part in its first group test at the weekend.

The tyres will continue to be developed over the winter ahead of the first test of 2011 in early February and the start of the season in mid March. The results are of particular significance to a number of drivers who struggled on the 2010 Bridgestone tyres, such as returning seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher, who got his first chance to use the new tyres on Saturday, said the test was fairly inconclusive but the general balance between front and rear grip - which he has struggled with this year - was more suited to his style than the Bridgestone's balance was.

"We were using the 2010 car and it will be all about how these tyres suit our 2011 car," he said. "These are not the final tyres but the ones I used today seemed to suit my style a bit more, especially the fronts."

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi also noticed some key differences compared with Bridgestone.

"We did our best start of the year," he told Auto Hebdo "You can also brake very hard and very late. On acceleration, the traction is poor and you lose a lot of grip, and the wear also seems higher. And on a long run the soft tyres wore much less than the hard tyres. In my opinion, they made a mistake and they've already said they'll change it. The front tyres are good. They respond well."

Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery said there were still some tweaks to be made after the weekend's learning experience.

"According to what we have learned in Abu Dhabi, we will change the compounds, but not the construction," he said. "The drivers especially enjoyed the performance of our front tyre, which is an area that we have worked on considerably."

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