The first of two days of the latest Pirelli 2017 tyre test has concluded today at Spain’s Montmelò circuit – just north of Barcelona – with championship leader Nico Rosberg at the wheel. Rosberg drove a Mercedes W06 mule car, which had been modified to simulate next year’s increased downforce loads.
Unfortunately, cool temperatures in the morning (with track temperatures of 17° centigrade at the beginning of the test) and the rain in the afternoon hindered the work that was done today, making it difficult to obtain representative tyre data.
Rosberg completed 60 laps: 46 in the morning on dry asphalt and 14 in the afternoon in the wet.
This test was focused on slick tyres in the morning and, under the circumstances, full wet in the afternoon, both in 2017 sizes.
The Mercedes test in Spain will conclude tomorrow.
Red Bull will take to the track next as part of the 2017 testing campaign, from 14-16 October in Abu Dhabi. This will be a slick tyre test.
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