Ferrari and Red Bull began the evaluation programme of Pirelli's new rubber a few weeks ago, with the two teams and Mercedes having created cars that attempt to simulation the increase in downforce that will be delivered next year.

But amid suggestions that simulation data is already pointing to F1's 2017 cars delivering more than originally anticipated five-seconds per lap improvement, Pirelli says that it wants the test cars to better match what will come.

Pirelli's F1 racing manager Mario Isola said: “The level of downforce of both the cars was not really the one expected, so was a bit less.

“We need for the future to work together with the teams to try to find more downforce because looking at the simulation of 2017 cars, the increase of downforce is quite a good step and we want to replicate it on the mule cars.”

As part of the Pirelli test agreement, the F1 teams have to try to simulate the increase in downforce coming for next year without actually having cars that comply with the rule changes.

It is why they have featured skirts, wing changes and higher floors in a bid to create a faster car without giving the teams involved a head start in their aero development for 2017.

Pirelli is planning further tests, which will include Mercedes, over the next few months before hopefully giving the sign off for production of the 2017 slick tyres after a test in the days following the Abu Dhabi GP.

“After Abu Dhabi, with the final version of the 2017 slick tyre, if the plan is confirmed then we start the production immediately after,” added Isola.

“We run the test with Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes and if we confirm the specification, we start the production immediately afterwards - because then we have to produce the tyre for the first races and for the winter test.

“At the moment we don't have a calendar so we need also to check the calendar to understand the deadline for the production but this is the plan at the moment.”

As Motorsport.com revealed last month, Pirelli's production plans for the new tyres has been helped by an agreement from teams to all have the same choice of compounds for the opening races next year.