Pirelli's Mario Isola has outlined what the manufacturer intends to do regarding testing of the new 18-inch tyres. With F1 switching to larger wheels and tyres for 2022, Pirelli embarked on an intensive test programme throughout 2021 as teams supplied modified mule cars for Pirelli to evaluate the new compounds. In 2022, the plan is to continue the specific tyre tests throughout the year as Pirelli evaluate compounds and respond to any initial teething problems. Speaking to media, including RacingNews365.com , Isola said that the testing programme will be confirmed shortly. "We have a plan that we submitted to the FIA. I know that they are still discussing some details on the budget cap in order to find a solution and to incentivise the teams to run the tyre tests," Isola said. "I believe that, [at the] beginning of January, we will be in a position to confirm the tests and also the teams that are attending."
Keeping the costs down
Last year, Mercedes pulled out of such a tyre test, citing budgetary concerns after Valtteri Bottas crashed his car heavily at Imola. With the budget cap becoming increasingly restrictive, cut to $140 million dollars this season - a reduction of $5 million - Isola says Pirelli are doing their utmost to ensure the costs of testing are kept as low as possible. "We [will] try to use, as much as possible, venues where we race on Sunday and stay for Tuesday and Wednesday," he explained. "That means less logistics costs for the teams. This is not applicable to Wet and Intermediate tyres, because we need to go to Paul Ricard (which can be artificially dampened) or specific circuits where we can wet the track. "But for the dry tests we are doing most of the time, there is only one session that is not connected to a race."
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