Red Bull continue testing duties for 2017 tyres

Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli continued its testing programme for its new wider, faster 2017 tyres at Mugello on Wednesday, with Red Bull test and reserve driver Sebastien Buemi completing 82 laps of the Italian circuit in a modified RB11.

The two-day Mugello session, which continues on Thursday, comes hot on the heels of Pirelli’s test with Ferrari at Fiorano, during which Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Gutierrez tested wet and intermediate compounds in an adapted SF15-T.

Buemi, who had not driven Formula One machinery for two years, was tasked with running slick tyres, with Pirelli fitting his car, which had been specially set-up to simulate 2017 performance levels, with a variety of compounds and new constructions.

As per the agreed terms of the programme, Red Bull were not given information on what they were testing, and are obliged to share data gathered with the other teams.

Ferrari and Mercedes will take over testing duties for the next stage of the programme, with the former running at Barcelona on September 6-7 and the latter at Paul Ricard on September 6-8.