08/09/2013
NEWS STORY
Red Bull is to conduct a tyre test at Barcelona with Pirelli, albeit with a 2011 car.
The test follows the 'secret' test carried out by Mercedes at the same circuit earlier in the year with current cars, and with its 2013 drivers, a move which saw the German team heavily criticised and excluded from the Young Driver Test at Silverstone.
Mindful of the subsequent outcry, and the fact that Red Bull is already running away with the titles, Pirelli insists that the Austrian team will not benefit from the test.
"They won't know what they are testing," Paul Hembery assured reporters in Monza, "and they won't have a clue what tyres they are running."
The test, which will take place this week, will see reserve driver Sebastien Buemi joined by 2014 'number two' Daniel Ricciardo.
"Pirelli approached all of the teams to see if they would be prepared to supply a 2011 car to conduct some 2014 tyre testing," said Christian Horner. "So we've made a car available.
"Sebastien Buemi will be driving on one day and Daniel Ricciardo will probably drive on the other because it's an opportunity for him to familiarise himself more with the team."