Pirelli considering sixth compound for 2018 season

Pirelli has confirmed that it is considering nominating a sixth compound for the 2018 season. Currently, the Italian company manufactures five compounds - the hard, medium, soft, super soft and ultra soft, although it has been previously stated that the hard tyre will not be used for the rest of the year.

It will not make a decision until the end of the season over a sixth compound. A test in Barcelona this week will be the last time Pirelli conducts on-track testing as it will then freeze the construction of the tyres.Valtteri Bottas tested the 2018 tyres in Hungary on Tuesday, while Antonio Giovinazzi will driving the Ferrari in a two-day test which commences on Thursday.

This will be the final chance that Pirelli has to test the tyres before supplying the FIA with details of the architecture for next season. However, it can wait right up to the start of December to nominate the tyres for the forthcoming season.

After the September 1st deadline in which Pirelli must provide the FIA with information over the new tyres, it will conduct more on-track tests, starting with a two-day run at the Circuit Paul Ricard on September 7th - 8th, Mexico on October 31st - November 1st and Brazil on November 14th - 15th. Following the season finale in Abu Dhabi, another two-day validation test will be held at the Yas Marina circuit which is open to all teams.

"Depending on the results, we will decide the number of compounds," Pirelli chief Mario Isola told Autosport. "My opinion is to go up to six, which is possible. If I look at the regulations the number of compounds is our proposal to the FIA, and usually the FIA accepts, because there is no reason to refuse.

"In fact this year we homologated 10 compounds - we had the five base compounds, and five back-up compounds. We don't need the agreement of the teams. In Abu Dhabi after the race we have two days of testing with all the cars, and all the teams, which is supposed to be for validation of the new product, to give the teams the opportunity to test it in advance."

Fergal Walsh