‘Demanding calendar’ affecting Pirelli tyre test plans

Jamie Woodhouse
Soft Pirelli tyres in a group. Saudi Arabia, March 2022.

Red-striped soft Pirelli tyres grouped together. Saudi Arabia, March 2022.

Pirelli admit that it is a challenge to plot out where they can fit in all of their tyre testing days during the 2022 season.

Formula 1’s tyre supplier will carry out a series of tests in 2022 with the teams to work on their tyre compounds for next season.

They have 25 days allocated, but the problem is, can they fit them all in?

Alfa Romeo are set to begin the testing programme after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, remaining in Imola for a two-day test on the Tuesday and Wednesday.

Two teams are then set to take part in tests at the Red Bull Ring and Hungaroring, so all of those tests combined will equal 12 testing days.

But after that, the calendar is looking very busy for fitting in the remaining 13.

In fact, of the 22 races currently on the calendar for 2022, 19 of them take place as part of a double or triple-header.

So, Pirelli are finding it tricky to confirm a schedule which works for the teams.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, leads the pack away. Australia, April 2022.
Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari leads the pack away at Albert Park. Australia, April 2022.

“We use the current cars and a number of test days have already been confirmed in the first half of the season,” Pirelli’s Formula 1 boss Mario Isola told Motorsport.com.

“We are currently in talks with the teams and the FIA about the second part of the year. The calendar is full of back-to-backs, triple headers and overseas races.

“In the case of, for example, three races, it is difficult to ask a team to stay a few days longer for a Pirelli test. It’s a demanding calendar.

“It is clear that we need to get feedback from several teams, otherwise it is difficult to develop a bond. You also test some solutions, analyse the results and develop new ideas.”

 

Motorsport.com report that to use up more of the remaining days, it is expected that the 2023 prototypes will be brought to two race weekends during the 2022 season, where they would be tested in Friday practice, but this has not been confirmed yet.