With the team continuing to clock up miles on the AMR24 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as we take part in a Pirelli tyre test following the Belgian Grand Prix, Aston Martin Aramco Test and Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Performance Director Tom McCullough reveal what the test is all about.
For the majority of the Formula One paddock, the chequered flag dropping at the Belgian Grand Prix signalled the start of the sport's annual summer break.
However, for a small group of our mechanics and engineers, as well as our Test and Reserve Driver Stoffel Vandoorne, there's still more track running to complete.
Remaining at Spa-Francorchamps, Stoffel and the team are taking part in the latest Pirelli tyre test, as Formula One's official tyre manufacturer continues to assess and analyse options for tyre compounds ahead of the 2025 season.
One in a series of tests over the course of this year, this week's running at Spa also marks Stoffel's first taste of the AMR24.
We caught up with Stoffel and Aston Martin Aramco Performance Director Tom McCullough for the lowdown on what happens at a Pirelli tyre test.
Who does the test?
"The test is led by Pirelli. It has total freedom over the programme," says Tom.
"F1 teams are contracted to help Pirelli develop the tyres, whether that's for reliability or for performance.
"Despite the accuracy of modern-day simulation tools, there is no substitute for real-world testing with a car that will put the tyre through the kind stresses and loads it will be subjected to on the track."
What happens during the test?
"Teams are obliged to run a current generation F1 car to work through a series of tests determined by Pirelli," adds Tom. "These can be anything from tests focused on the construction of the tyre or the compound of the tyre.
"It's a blind test for the team. This means we don't know what tyres are being put on the car, but the tests are almost always focused on the development and understanding of the following year's tyres.
"Pirelli will cycle through both low- and high-fuel runs on different compounds to collect data, which will help it understand how to further improve and develop the tyres."
Why does it matter?
"Tyres are one of the most crucial aspects of how an F1 car performs – they are the only part of an F1 car in contact with the track – and Pirelli is constantly evolving the tyres based on changes in the regulations and feedback from the teams," explains Stoffel.
"Pirelli uses the test to evaluate new constructions and compounds of its tyres that it may want to introduce to the sport in the future.
"We run a lot of different sets of tyres during the day, and it's beneficial for the team because we may get an early feeling for what direction Pirelli might head in."
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