F1 Teams Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull To Help Pirelli Test Bigger Tires For '17

Formula 1's top three teams are getting a "huge advantage" by helping Pirelli test the bigger tires for '17, according to GMM. While Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull "put up their hands to modify 2015 cars" for the higher downforce of next year, McLaren-Honda decided against taking part in the Pirelli testing. McLaren Racing Dir Eric Boullier: "We believe it was better not to get distracted." Force India Technical Dir Andy Green "thinks the three big teams are getting a big head start by doing Pirelli's on-track work." Green: "The three teams that have built test cars for Pirelli are getting a huge advantage. All the others will only get their first experience early next year of what Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are getting now." However, Pirelli has promised that data from the current '17 tire testing "is being given to all of the teams" (GMM, 8/14).