While the 2018 Formula 1 season is on, Pirelli is already working on the 2019 tyres with the two-day test at Silverstone post the British Grand Prix.
The Italian manufacturer tested the slick tyres for the 2019 season in the two days on Tuesday and Wednesday with Red Bull Racing, Williams and Haas staying back at the circuit to help them with the testing.
While Romain Grosjean and Robert Kubica ran with Haas and Williams respectively on both the days, Formula E and World Endurance racer Sebastien Buemi drove the Red Bull on Tuesday with Max Verstappen taking over on Wednesday.
The weather fortunately for Pirelli stayed dry for both the days of the test as the four drivers among them completed a total of 252 laps on Tuesday and 257 on Wednesday to take its tally to 509 in the two days.
There’s a pile of work to get through this afternoon (quite literally) in #F1Testing at Silverstone. For anyone who’s interested in weather it’s 21 degrees at the moment: not quite the same weather as #BritishGP! pic.twitter.com/69TTxq7yeP
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) July 10, 2018
The tyres were unmarked so that the teams don’t know which compound they tested and the sole purpose of the running was to test tyres which prohibits the teams from running any new parts on the cars.
If you look carefully, you can see which tyres Robert #Kubica @WilliamsRacing is testing for next year. Actually not….all the prototypes don’t have colour markings. So they look a bit naked.. pic.twitter.com/EuOqY1Yi9N
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) July 10, 2018
Hi @RGrosjean @HaasF1Team! Quick change over from standard medium. During development tests, teams also make regular runs with standard (non-prototype) tyres to maintain a consistent reference with the track – which can evolve during the day. #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/j2lHO90i9e
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) July 10, 2018
McLaren is the next team on schedule to test the 2019 tyres at Paul Ricard in September where they will run the wet compound on the French circuit, thereby putting in use the sprinkler system installed at the circuit in case the weather is dry.