Formula 1 private testing may be banned in principle, but that did not stop 11 different drivers from taking to the track at Mugello and Imola within just 48 hours. During the break in the 2026 F1 season before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, cars from McLaren, Red Bull, Audi, Ferrari and Racing Bulls were all in action. There was no loophole or attempt to circumvent the regulations, however: F1’s rules contain specific exceptions that allow teams to run cars during the season under tightly controlled conditions.
The largest group was involved in Pirelli’s development programme for the 2027 Formula 1 tyres at Mugello. Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson drove on Wednesday, followed by Lando Norris, Ayumu Iwasa and Nico Hülkenberg on Thursday. Together, they covered 2,948 kilometres while testing the hardest compounds in the range, from the C1 to the C3.
Why F1 private testing rules make the Mugello running legal
The lap times recorded during the Pirelli test do not provide a reliable competitive ranking. Oscar Piastri set a 1:21.358, Liam Lawson a 1:22.297, Lando Norris a 1:21.899, Ayumu Iwasa a 1:23.414 and Nico Hülkenberg a 1:24.012, but the drivers were working through different programmes, prototypes, stint lengths and fuel loads.
More importantly, the session was organised by Pirelli exclusively to develop its tyres. Teams are not allowed to turn this type of running into an unrestricted private test for developing their own cars, an issue that has previously attracted scrutiny during Ferrari’s Pirelli testing at Imola.
Ferrari uses its 2025 SF-25 under TPC regulations
Ferrari was also running at Mugello at the same time, but under a different regulatory framework. The Scuderia used its 2025 SF-25 with Rafael Câmara, Norman Nato, Antonio Fuoco and Dino Beganovic as part of a TPC programme, or Testing of Previous Cars.
TPC regulations allow Formula 1 teams to run machinery from previous seasons within clearly defined limits. Ferrari has used this type of programme before to provide drivers with Formula 1 mileage, including previous-car testing at Fiorano.
For Ferrari, the Mugello session offered an opportunity to give Rafael Câmara and Dino Beganovic additional mileage while also working with members of its development programme. Norman Nato, driving a Ferrari Formula 1 car for the first time, and Antonio Fuoco can use track running to transfer work carried out in the simulator into the real car and improve the correlation between simulated and real-world data.
Nikola Tsolov completes 300 kilometres at Imola
At the same time, Nikola Tsolov completed his first proper Formula 1 test at Imola in Racing Bulls’ 2025 VCARB 02. The Formula 2 championship leader covered at least 300 kilometres, satisfying one of the requirements needed for an FIA Super Licence.
The mileage also brings Nikola Tsolov closer to the possibility of being used in a future FP1 session, allowing him to continue pursuing his ambition of securing a place on the Formula 1 grid.
Racing Bulls also ran Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson at Imola with its 2026 car, but through a third regulatory route: a filming day. These promotional events allow current Formula 1 cars to run outside a Grand Prix weekend, although the permitted mileage is heavily restricted.
Pirelli tests, TPC and filming days explain the apparent contradiction
This explains the apparent paradox surrounding Formula 1’s private testing ban. The championship has eliminated the unrestricted private tests of the past, but it has not completely prevented Formula 1 cars from running outside official race weekends.
Pirelli tyre tests, Testing of Previous Cars and filming days each have different purposes and different restrictions. Through those three regulatory mechanisms, 11 different drivers were able to drive Formula 1 machinery at Mugello and Imola within just 48 hours without breaking any rules.
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