Pirelli motorsport chief Paul Hembery has played down suggestions Sebastian Vettel has advantage with the 2017 tyres after completing numerous tests last year.
In preparation for the wider tyres introduced this year, the top three teams, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, all completed a number of tests with adapted 2015 cars, designed to mimic the downforce levels expected this year.
While Pascal Wehrlein usually stepped in to drive for Mercedes, Vettel was a willing participant in these tests completing 2000km of running.
“Yes, Sebastian did a lot of testing,” Hembery said.
“It was very intense and he gave us a lot of feedback. We thank him for that. That is what we wanted: the top drivers giving us good feedback.”
On whether that running also benefited the German, however, Hembery added: “Because he didn’t really know what he was testing – he was blind-testing – it might have helped him psychologically, but I doubt it helped practically.”
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff made the most impactful suggestion of some kind of collaboration when he claimed his team’s problems in Monaco were an “Italian mystery”.
Commenting on the situation of the defending world champions’ inconsistency with the Pirelli rubber, Hembery added: “Actually Mercedes’ issue is linked a bit to certain circuits: in Barcelona they were fine – and in Silverstone and Spa they will be as well.
“It’s the lower-grip circuits where they’ve had a few more problems, but I am sure they will resolve any issues as we go through the season.”
