Pirelli's new super-hard tyre compound is unlikely to make an appearance next year and is only in place in case the performance of the cars proves to be higher than expected.
Formula One's sole tyre supplier is extending either end of its compound range next year, with the introduction of the hyper-soft as F1's softest compound and the super-hard as its hardest. All compounds will be made a step softer compared to this year's range in an attempt to induce a greater variation in tyre strategy after a series of one-stop races in 2017.
New aerodynamic and tyre regulations saw lap times slashed by as much as five seconds this year and by the time pre-season testing rolls around in 2018, Pirelli is expecting at least another second in performance compared to the end of this year.