18-inch tires, Ferrari as a luxury trailblazer for Pirelli
The 2021 season hasn't started yet, but some are already looking towards 2022. Pirelli is taking the lead and preparing its 2022 format tires, the 18-inch ones.
Already tested in F2 last year, the 18-inch tires were supposed to replace the 13-inch ones in F1 this year. The pandemic having postponed the new technical regulations, Pirelli thus has an additional year to prepare.
Pirelli accumulates kilometers with Ferrari:
Already tested with Ferrari in 2020, Charles Leclerc is once again behind the wheel of his red car today in the south of Spain on the Jerez circuit. He put the new tires planned for 2022 through their paces throughout the day by completing 110 laps with intermediate tires.
These tests will last three days. Tomorrow, the young Monegasque will give up his seat to his new teammate Carlos Sainz, at the wheel of the SF90.
This year, the Italian equipment manufacturer benefits from 30 days of testing to produce, improve, and confirm well-crafted tires for future single-seaters with the goal of being performant, but allowing for degradation to encourage pit stops.
Preview image of the new tire design:
Our #Fit4F1 18-inch testing campaign is underway with @Charles_Leclerc and @ScuderiaFerrari. 110 laps completed at @circuitodejerez
in Spain today with prototype intermediate tyres for 2022. And we’re back for more tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/uQ9Of23DwO— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) February 22, 2021
