Pirelli is hoping to finalise its slick tyre construction and compounds in the next few weeks, but it lost two valuable days of running with Mercedes at Barcelona thanks to bad weather.

Fog, cold temperatures and rain meant that neither Nico Rosberg nor Pascal Wehrlein were able to make much progress in evaluating the wider slick tyres.

With only one further slick tyre test planned prior to the post-season evaluation of the final 2017 tyres, Pirelli will be hoping that Gasly's three days of testing at the Yas Marina circuit will be more productive.

The Barcelona setback has, however, served as a reminder about the risks of pre-season testing in Europe next year being hit by bad weather.

Pirelli is making a big push to get at least one test in Bahrain ahead of the 2017 campaign, but is facing resistance from several teams.

Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery said about Barcelona this week: "Obviously the weather hindered progress to some extent, as is not entirely unexpected at this time of year in Europe.

"The same can apply to the early part of next year, which is why we are in favour of some guaranteed warm weather testing in 2017, before the season gets underway."