Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time during Pirelli’s two-day test at Paul Ricard which was focused on developing new wet-weather compounds.
Stoffel Vandoorne was the only driver to complete both days of running. Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat shared driving duties for Red Bull. Between them the three teams covered over 600 laps totalling more than 2,300 kilometres as Pirelli worked on its full wet tyre compound.
The test was conducted ‘blind’ with no markings on the development tyres so the teams would not know which versions of the rubber they were using. Paul Ricard’s track sprinklers were used to simulate various different water levels.
Pirelli said the cool temperatures of around 11C were “not ideally representative” but it was able to collect useful data.
| Driver | Team | Best time | Laps | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1’06.750 | 134 | Tuesday |
| Daniil Kvyat | Red Bull | 1’06.833 | 113 | Tuesday |
| Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren | 1’07.758 | 214 | Monday and Tuesday |
| Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 108.713 | 99 | Monday |
| Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1’09.637 | 99 | Monday |
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Matthijs (@matthijs)
26th January 2016, 16:22
You test in January in France, what do you expect? Normal midday temperature for Le Castellet in January is 12 degrees.
graham228221 (@graham228221)
26th January 2016, 17:50
Another season of completely useless full wet tyres then, with Pirelli bleating about the lack of wet testing.
Just make the full wets as hard-wearing as possible, and as deep-treaded as needed. What is there to work out exactly? Are they trying to perfect their cliff-edge formula for wets as well as dry tyres?
Aqib (@aqibqadeer)
26th January 2016, 18:31
its not that simple they have to work out the optimum level of grip as well. if they make hard-wearing deep treaded tyres they would have no grip there are probably many more parameters that they have to consider. testing is needed for better tyres dont know why FOM doesnt allow for testing
Tristan
26th January 2016, 21:26
This is better that what they’ve had in the past at least. Trucks going around the racing line in dubai for 15 minutes of running for half useful data before the track is bone dry again -_-
Ignorance is bliss.
Greg Kingston (@gregkingston)
26th January 2016, 22:18
Well, at least they’ve had 20 times more wet weather testing than they’ve had in the past two pre-seasons.
Difficult to do without testing. There’s this other thing drivers and spectators like – grip.
graham228221 (@graham228221)
27th January 2016, 5:35
In the wet? They just have to be driveable.
John H (@john-h)
26th January 2016, 20:06
Whenever I see a side picture of that McLaren the only thing I can think of is HRT.
markp
27th January 2016, 11:33
No way, similar livery, similar speed but the HRT was far more reliable.
SatchelCharge (@satchelcharge)
27th January 2016, 14:20
lol
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
26th January 2016, 23:05
Forza Ferrari!