Vettel to debut wide Pirellis on Monday

Jul.29 (GMM) Sebastian Vettel will be the first F1 driver to sample Pirelli's bigger and wider tyres for the 2017 season.

After his home German grand prix on Sunday, the 29-year-old will head straight to Ferrari's Fiorano test circuit where, on Monday, the first of 24 days of specific Pirelli testing for the new 2017 tyres begins.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that on a 2015 Ferrari, modified to produce more downforce, the wider Pirellis with a wet compound will make their debut on the artificially-watered Fiorano layout.

With Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull supplying the test cars, Pirelli has insisted that the teams' race drivers do the track running.

"We want to rely on the best possible feedback from the drivers," the report quoted a Pirelli source as saying.

But on August 3 at Mugello, it will be Sebastien Buemi doing the first running of the wide 2017 slicks, aboard Red Bull's modified 2015 car.

Mercedes' first Pirelli running will take place in September.