Pirelli unveils prototype 18-inch F1 tyres
Formula 1’s prototype 18-inch wheels have been revealed at Monza, where ex-Ferrari driver Jean Alesi gave Formula 2’s equivalent their on-track public debut.
Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Pirelli will begin its testing programme with F1's 18-inch wheels at Paul Ricard next week with a mule car provided by the Renault team.
The 18-inch F1 wheels were revealed in a static display after Alesi's F2 demo run on Saturday.
F2 will switch to 18-inch wheels one year before F1 does in 2021.
Alesi regularly frequents the Formula 2 paddock as his son Giuliano competes in the the series for Trident Racing, and is also a member for the Ferrari Driver Academy.
F2's 18-inch wheels were revealed earlier this year and on-track testing has already begun. A development car has been running in private while the championship and Pirelli work out if any updates are needed to the cars next year, and how the size change will alter performance on track.
Ex-F2 driver and FDA pilot Antonio Fuoco has been helping to conduct the testing behind closed doors.
In its previous guise as GP2, the feeder series conducted a public demonstration of 18-inch wheels in 2015 in Monaco.
F1 has also tested bigger wheels before, when Lotus ran them at Silverstone in 2014.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The driver who can wreck F1's 2020 silly season
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Friday favourite: The long-standing F1 team-mates who crashed Todt's car
F1 driver mid-season swaps - Schumacher, De Vries, Verstappen and more
On this day: How Jean Alesi rocked F1 at Paul Ricard with Tyrrell
Martin: Bagnaia still MotoGP title favourite in 2024 but fight is wide open
"Complete s***show" - Does the DTM test still make sense in its current form?
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The off-track action that makes the Miami GP an F1 race like no other
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The secrets of F1 turbocharging explained
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
The ironic reason Newey thinks Red Bull hasn't been caught in F1 yet
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments