Fernando Alonso says that drivers currently testing Pirelli tyres of the 2017 season are gaining an advantage and has called for all drivers to sample the new rubber.
Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes have been testing the wider tyres in preparation for next season, with the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Pierre Gasly, Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Rosberg on duty.
McLaren opted out of the tests, a decision which Alonso laments, "I think it's always nice, in terms of preparing yourself, to know exactly what to expect from the tyre behaviour the following year by having some test with the tyres."
"In 2007 [when Alonso changed from Michelins at Renault to Bridgestones at McLaren], it was more or less a similar situation of an unknown tyre coming into play from one year to another, but we have also in the Pirelli era in 2011 the same conditions, switching from Bridgestone to Pirelli."
"At that time it was the same for everybody, but this time it's only a few drivers and few teams having that possibility [to test]. That's the thing that seems a little bit unfair this year."
Alonso has not always been a fan of the characteristics of the F1 tyres produced by Pirelli, but told ESPN he is hoping that the new generation tyres are better, "I think they are in very early days in the tyre testing, so let's wait to see the final result. Unfortunately we are not able to test the tyres, only a few drivers will test the tyres."
"It would be nice to all have the same opportunity after the last race or something like that, but I know that has some implications on the current [car] design and for the tyres as well."
"Let's hope for a good tyre. I know they are testing more than they did any other year, so before the quality of the tyre performance was not as good as it could be because of the lack of testing, but now they have a test programme in place, so I expect a fantastic tyre next year," added the Spaniard.
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