Pirelli has admitted to relief that, after a long delay, its presence in Formula 1 beyond 2016 has finally been confirmed.

The Italian marque actually secured a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone for 2017 until 2019 late last year, but it could not be made official until a separate contract with the governing FIA was also signed and sealed.

"It is the final step of a very long path," Pirelli spokesman Roberto Boccafogli told reporters in Baku, after issuing a press release about the FIA contract.

"We knew already for quite a long time that we are remaining in formula one, but when it gets officialised by the FIA it becomes really true."

Pirelli has already started work on its significantly bigger and wider tyres for 2017, which were unveiled to the media in Monaco a few weeks ago.

Boccafogli said that actual testing of the tyres, fitted to specially-modified 2015 cars prepared by F1's top three teams, will begin in August.