Mercedes and Wehrlein sample 2017 tyre size

Tuesday saw Mercedes get their first chance to try out the wider tyre size that will feature on all Formula One cars next season. The team were beginning a three-day test with Pirelli as part of the Italian marque's tyre development programme for 2017.

Manor racer and Mercedes-Benz Junior Driver Pascal Wehrlein took the wheel of the world champions’ 2015 F1 W06 Hybrid for the running at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France, with the car set up to simulate 2017 levels of downforce.

It makes Mercedes the third team to trial the new tyre size - 25 percent wider than in 2016 - with Pirelli, Red Bull having previously tested it in Mugello, Italy, and Ferrari at Fiorano, Italy.

Ferrari were also carrying out further Pirelli development work on Tuesday, with Kimi Raikkonen on track in Barcelona, following team mate Sebastian Vettel's recent wet-weather outing at Fiorano.