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Pirelli will trial Zandvoort-spec tyres in second Formula 1 test

Pirelli has asked Formula 1 teams to try a special Zandvoort prototype front tyre in next week's second Barcelona test, ahead of its possible deployment at the Dutch GP

F1's tyre supplier says it is still assessing data on the newly re-worked track, which now features a high-speed banked final corner to aid passing into turn one and has also been resurfaced.

The Italian company has developed the new tyre for possible use if it thinks the projected loadings require a change from the standard 2019/2020 construction.

Only the front Zandvoort-specific tyres would be different to the regular tyres.

Teams will try the C2 compound in Spain next week, and if the decision to use the prototype tyre is eventually confirmed, it will be deployed across all three race weekend compounds.

The teams are due to be informed of the plan by Pirelli today.

"I'm going to tell the teams that we're going to test prototype front tyres in the next session," said Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola (below).

"This prototype had been designed with a slightly different construction because we are still analysing data coming from Zandvoort.

"We made some analysis on the banking, and the plan is to use these tyres with a slightly higher pressure.

"So in preparation for that, because we are not fully aware of everything, we do not have final data on the circuit, on the tarmac roughness and so on, the idea is also to test a slightly different construction here.

"It's working in a slightly different way - it's more resistant."

Isola stressed that readying the new tyre was not a "panic" measure.

"It was discussed with the FIA and agreed with the FIA. I don't want to hear comments like 'panic, panic,' there is no panic," he said.

"It is part of a serious and professional process where we need to be ready in case.

"Finally we may go with the normal tyres, with the appropriate prescriptions, but we prefer also to test the drivability of a different construction, and we have the opportunity here in Barcelona during the pre-season test.

"In the regulations it is written that during the race weekend we can test an additional prototype, two sets per car.

"We are going to give two sets per car of additional prototypes here at the next test. We'll supply the whole set, but just the front tyres are different."

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