Pirelli's Formula 1 boss Paul Hembery has predicted that lap records will be broken during the 2015 season.
After a difficult 2013, which included several tyre blowouts, Pirelli opted for a conservative choice of tyre compounds last campaign.
However, Hembery believes that the improvements in engine development and aerodynamics, combined with better rubber, will make for a faster F1 season.
He told F1news.ru: "Last season the power unit manufacturers, the teams, and ourselves learned a lot. It will be very interesting to see what awaits us in Australia. Only then will we get a real idea of the scale of changes that have occurred.
"At Pirelli we already have specific information about what we can expect in the new season, and I can say that some of it is very interesting, and that is to put it mildly.
"We expect a significant increase in pace, and when you consider how much laptimes normally improve through a season, I think by the end of 2015 we will be getting close to breaking records."
F1 teams will begin pre-season testing in early February at Jerez.