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Ferrari and Pirelli postpone 2021 18-inch wet tyre test at Fiorano

17:22, 03 Mar 2020

byBevan Youl

Ferrari and Pirelli have postponed an 18-inch wet tyre test that was set to take place at Fiorano this week due to company restrictions and concerns about the Coronavirus outbreak.

From 2021 Formula 1 teams will be using 18-inch tyre rims that have been introduced this year in Formula 2.

Pirelli have an allocation of 25 test days to work with teams and the new wheels, having begun with Ferrari early February in Jerez.

But their next session to use wet tyres in wet conditions which was scheduled for Thursday March 5 at the Scuderia’s Fiorano facility in Italy has been postponed.

Both said in a joint statement: “Because of company restriction policies adopted by Scuderia Ferrari and Pirelli following the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak, the scheduled 18-inch 2021 wet tyre test at Fiorano on March 5 has to be postponed.

"The test will be rescheduled at Fiorano at the earliest opportunity."

Italy, where Ferrari, Pirelli and AlphaTauri are based, has been one of the countries most affected by the outbreak of coronavirus which has also impacted the 2020 calendar.

The Chinese Grand Prix has been postponed, while the races in Australia and Vietnam are still set to go ahead despite concerns.

While Bahrain has announced travel restrictions for individuals from a list of countries including Italy, China, Japan Iran, South Korea, Japan and Thailand, with the nations Grand Prix organiser working alongside the FIA and F1 to facilitate their race.