Liam Lawson returned to the wheel of a Red Bull ath the test. Image: Pirelli
The McLaren and Red Bull drivers shared the opening day of a two-day test at the Tuscan circuit, with running focused on the three hardest compounds in Pirelli’s range.
Piastri completed 93 laps for a total of 488 kilometres, setting a best time of 1m21.358s during a program which incorporated the C1, C2 and C3 compounds.
The Australian’s program culminated in a pair of 14-lap runs after earlier work over shorter distances
Lawson covered considerably more ground for Red Bull, completing 116 laps and 608 kilometres while concentrating predominantly on the C2.
After initially completing repeated eight-lap outings on the C2, Lawson then increased the length of his runs during the afternoon as the evaluation progressed.
The Kiwi’s quickest lap was a 1m22.297s, although outright performance was not the focus of the test as Pirelli gathered comparative data for its 2027 development program.
Conditions were particularly hot at Mugello, with the track temperature reaching a peak of 55 degrees Celsius.
Oscar Piastri at the Pirelli test at Mugello. Image: Pirelli
Curiously, the appearance also put Lawson back behind the wheel of a Red Bull just days after his return to the senior team at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The New Zealander was called up at short notice for Zandvoort after Isack Hadjar was ruled out with a wrist injury, qualifying eighth before finishing seventh in Sunday’s race.
It marked Lawson’s first points as a Red Bull driver following his brief two-race stint with the team at the beginning of 2025.
Red Bull is hopeful Hadjar will return for the Italian Grand Prix next weekend, although there has been no further confirmation over whether the Frenchman will be fit to race at Monza or if Lawson will remain in the seat for another weekend.
Testing at Mugello continues on Thursday, with Lando Norris taking over McLaren duties from Piastri and Ayumu Iwasa replacing Lawson for Red Bull.
Audi will also join the program for the second day, with Nico Hulkenberg scheduled to drive.