First pictures of Pirelli's Abu Dhabi tyre test are revealed
Thursday 3 December 2015 18:06, UK
The first images from Pirelli's behind-closed-doors tyre test in Abu Dhabi, marking the end of the F1 season, have been released.
The media were barred from attending the event while the teams weren't allowed to run any new parts on their cars.
McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne topped the timesheets - the first time, at the very last attempt, the team topped a timesheet in 2015.
It's not known what type of tyre the young Belgian driver was using when he set his fastest lap. Pirelli's Paul Hembery revealed afterwards that F1's tyre makers had "tested different versions of the new ultrasoft compound for 2016" which has been "mainly designed as aggressive choice for street circuits".
While Pirelli are still evaluating the results of the test, the FIA have announced that drivers will be allowed to pick their own tyres in 2016.
Pirelli have also announced that they intend to host a wet-weather test at the end of January at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France.
The first official pre-season test of 2016 is scheduled to start on February 22 in Barcelona.
There will be just eight days of pre-season running next year before the season starts in Australia.
