Pirelli is testing again this week with the new F1 tires for 2027. The Mugello circuit in Tuscany serves as the setting for some important test laps on Thursday and Friday. McLaren, Audi, and Red Bull are participating, with Liam Lawson – who already substituted for Isack Hadjar during the recent Dutch GP at Zandvoort – stepping in again for the main team. Oscar Piastri set the fastest time on the first test day.
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Under extremely warm conditions, with a track temperature of no less than 55 degrees Celsius, Piastri and Lawson gathered data on Thursday for the development of the new generation of tires. The Australian was ultimately the fastest of the two: the McLaren driver recorded a lap time of 1:21.358, while Lawson was stuck at 1:22.297.
Liam Lawson makes progress with Red Bull
However, the main goal of the test was not to set fast times, but to collect as much information as possible about different compounds. Both short and long runs were completed to map the behavior of the tires over various distances. Lawson covered the most distance. The Red Bull driver completed 116 laps, good for about 608 kilometers.
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The tests are part of a broader development program for the new F1 regulations. Friday features the second test day, with McLaren, Red Bull, and Audi back in action. Lando Norris, Ayumu Iwasa, and Nico Hülkenberg will respectively take the wheel of the three cars.
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