Sebastian Vettel Fastest at F1’s Wet Tire Test for Pirelli

By: S. Harding, Xiro Xone News  January 26, 2016

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Photo: Ferrari F1 Team
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel finished Pirelli’s two-day wet tire test in France as the fastest man on the track. Vettel, who took over from Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on Tuesday, completed 134 laps at the Paul Ricard circuit.

Pirelli, Formula One’s sole tire supplier, called for the test in order to gather data on their wet tire, with a total of 659 laps completed.

The Paul Ricard circuit has a variable sprinkler system that allowed Pirelli to test with different amounts of water on the track in order to simulate variable conditions. Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren participated in the test with all three teams using last year’s car.

The track's sprinkler system allowed Pirelli to control the amount of water pumped onto the circuit, with Day Two's running focused on drying track conditions. According to the circuit, six million litres of recycled rain water were used across the two days of action.
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Vettel topped the times for Ferrari. Photo: Ferrari F1 Team
Vettel’s best effort of 1min 06.750sec was marginally quicker than the Red Bull of Daniil Kvyat. McLaren’s reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne, who participated in both days of track action, was one second slower than Vettel.

Pirelli's wet tire prototypes are ahead of the 2016 season. The first pre-season test begins in Barcelona on 22 February while the season starts in Melbourne March 20th.
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