Despite suggesting that it would try to re-introduce the dreaded 'cliff' when it came to the degradation of its 2016 F1 tyres, Pirelli admitted during this week's four-day pre-season test in Barcel꧋ona that it expects wear rates to be more gradual.

Data from the test, which saw all eleven teams in action and ten with 2016-spec machinery, confirmed that the Italian manufacturer had produced a preferable effect in its bid to add a little spice to the racing, with drivers expected to get more warning of degradation ratherᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤🍸⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ than being plunged into an adverse situation with little chance of avoidance.

" There is a loss of grip, but it is not a 'cliff'," F1 racing manager Mario ꦯIsola underlined, "It is quite gradual, and it is much better not to have a complete and sudden loss of grip. We will invest🎃igate his aspect better with some analysis during the next few days but, at the moment, the signals seem to be good."

Under pressure to inject a little unpredictability back into the sport via a re♐design of its tyres, Pirelli has added a harder compound beneath the main tread, which it hopes will lead to a slowing of pace rat𒁏her than the complete drop-off seen with the so-called 'cliff' in recent years.

"This information we need to analyse better because, of course, when [the teams] are testing, they are using different fuel loads, different set-ups," Isola reasoned, "We need to pay attention so that, when we construct a number, it is the correct one. But, if you look at a 🌼run, you don't see a linear degradation and then, suddenly, a 'cliff', so you have a curve that i𓂃s much smaller."

Having completed 1600km of testi🌞ng across the four days, Mercedes got plenty of experience of the new rubber - which this year includes an 'ultrasoft' variantꦺ for the first time - and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton confirmed that there had been no shocks.

" There's not much of a cliff to be honest," the Briton reported, "[The tyres] ๊behave very similarly to last year. There is a little bit more deg maybe on the left-front tyre but, generally, it's nothing exciting or nothing new that will make a difference. Nothing exciting there."

Pirelli and the teams will get a second chanc🍌e to run through the tyre range as testing resumes - and concludes - with another four-day session at the Circuit de Catalunya next week, prior to then cars being shipped off to Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in three weeks' time.