Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes First To Test 2017 Tires

Ferrari, Red Bull and Formula One world champion Mercedes will be first to test Pirelli's wider 2017 tires in August, Pirelli's racing manager, Mario Isola, said at a Monaco Grand Prix presentation Saturday.

"This is the first, first version," he said, speaking in front of a demonstration car to show off the bigger prototype tires.

"We are working with the teams to have 'mule cars' available as soon as possible. They will be 2015 cars modified for the new tires with additional downforce to simulate the performance expected for next year," Isola said.

"When we start, probably in August, we will have a concentrated test plan because we need to find a final version of the tire by the end of November or December ... we don't have a lot of time."

Isola said the new tires will take a lot more speed through the corners, with an expected improvement of four seconds in lap time.

The plan is to stay with five compounds for 2017, but that could change once they have been tested. Pirelli has brought a new ultrasoft tire to Monaco this weekend.

The new, wider tires have eight centimeters more at the rear and six at the front — equal to about a 20 percent increase on the current size.

Formula One is planning sweeping changes to the aerodynamic regulations for next year that will increase the levels of downforce.