PIRELLI has opted for bold tyre choices for the opening four grands prix of the new Formula One season.

Last month Pirelli unveiled its range of revolutionary rubber for the coming campaign, designed to produce at least two pit stops per race.

As part of their ongoing strategy to enhance the show, Pirelli will use the more quickly degrading super-soft tyre for the first time at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 17, in conjunction with the medium compound.

A week later in Malaysia it will be the medium and hard tyres, whilst in China and Bahrain in April there will be a further two different combinations, with the soft/medium and soft/hard respectively.

Motorsport director Paul Hembery, meanwhile, has suggested pre-season testing next year may have to move to a Middle East venue. The first test has invariably always been conducted in Jerez, as was the case last week, as it is the warmest place in Europe at that time of year.

But throughout the four days at the Circuito de Jerez there were a number of complaints from teams and drivers, as well as Pirelli themselves, that the ageing asphalt had now become too abrasive.

“It (Jerez) is not a good reference because of the condition of the asphalt,” said Hembery.

“I think next year maybe we should go to Bahrain or Abu Dhabi.”