As part of a deal that F1’s tyre supplier agreed with the FIA, Pirelli is allowed 25 extra car days of in-season testing over the course of the year to help better prepare its products. 

Last season only Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari had the resources to be able to create mule cars to help with the 2017 preparations, while this year every outfit has agreed to run for at least one day to work on 2018 specifications. 

In a note sent to teams over the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, and seen by Motorsport.com, the plans for the tests have now been finalised by the FIA and Pirelli. 

The tests will be spread across a host of tracks – including Bahrain, Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Silverstone, Magny-Cours and Interlagos. 

Teams are allowed to run their 2017 cars at these tests, but must notify the FIA in advance of the chassis to be used, the bodywork configuration, the type of powerunit fitted and its electronic settings. 

It has been made clear that teams will not be allowed to use any updated parts, to ensure that they do not benefit from the extra running. 

The note from the FIA states: “No test parts will be permitted and any modification or change to a test car will be shared with all the teams.” 

At the tests, Pirelli will be in charge of the run plans, and data afterwards will be sent to all teams.  Rival outfits are allowed to send observers. 

2017 In-season test plan

Date Circuit Team April 18/19 Bahrain Ferrari (1 day)* May 16/17 Barcelona Renault and Toro Rosso (4 days) May 31/June 1 Paul Ricard Red Bull (2 days, wet test) June 29/30 Paul Ricard Red Bull (2 days) July 18/19 Silverstone Williams and Haas (4 days) July 19/20 Magny Cours McLaren (2 days, wet test) August 1/2 Hungaroring Mercedes (1 day)* August 3/4 Barcelona Ferrari (2 days) September 7/8 Paul Ricard Mercedes (2 days) October 31/Nov 1 Mexico Sauber (2 days) Force India (1 day) November 14/15 Interlagos McLaren (2 days)

* One day of running to take place alongside in-season test