Russell completes 18-inch F1 tyre test for Mercedes

George Russell has completed a test run for Mercedes on 18-inch Pirelli tyres that will be introduced for the 2021 Formula 1 season. 

It marked the first time the six-time double world championship winning German squad had tested the new 18-inch development compounds ahead of the switch from the current 13-inch tyres in 2021. 

Williams driver Russell, who has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2017, drove 100 laps around the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi in the team's W10 during a private test on Sunday. 

Russell also drove for Mercedes on Wednesday during the two-day post Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tyre test, with the F1 rookie topping the timesheets on the final day of official track running in 2019. 

The Briton will return to the cockpit of the modified mule-spec Mercedes W10 on Monday to continue Pirelli's development test programme. 

To ensure no advantage is gained, Pirelli controls all elements of the test run plan and shares the data gathered with all 10 teams. 

F1 will remain on 13-inch tyres for 2020, while Formula 2 will switch to 18-inch rubber for next season, a year ahead of F1's transition to the new compounds. 

Today’s @GeorgeRussell63 running for @MercedesAMGF1 on our #Fit4F1 18-inch tyre development programme for @F1 2021 is complete with 100 laps at @ymcofficial circuit!#F1testing pic.twitter.com/I27Q8rMttk

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) December 8, 2019

Russell will remain with Williams for his sophomore F1 campaign in 2020 and will be partnered by F1 rookie and F2 frontrunner Nicholas Latifi, who acted as the Grove-based outfit's development and test driver throughout 2019.