FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[vaptin]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22672228

This is crazy, it should be the same rules for all teams, Perrelli I think, now ought to give every other team on the grid three days of tyre testing, with the tyres they plan to use in the next Grand Prix.

Nice of the FIA and the like, to let other teams know, clearly they had nothing to hide. . .

I can see a legal challenge on this to be honest, though I'm not so sure how those things work.

But well, it just seems like the sporting regulations get to be changed at anytime now? Why wouldn't the FIA insist that such a test would be open to all teams?

Maybe Mercedes fans don't care, but personally, I think the sport should be fair to all. And Mercedes should aim to win that way. Otherwise well, all the people complaining about how it isn't real racing anymore, how is this real racing either? It's a kick in the face to all the other teams who have worked so hard on tyre analysis, it's like giving the dumbest kid in school, the test papers before anyone else gets to see them.

[andrew]

If there was nothing illegal abou the test, why was it conducted in secrecy? This to me seems a bit odd.

Fair enough they have a tyre test but surely in terms of fairness all teams should have been notified.

[vaptin]

If there was nothing illegal abou the test, why was it conducted in secrecy? This to me seems a bit odd.

Fair enough they have a tyre test but surely in terms of fairness all teams should have been notified.

Yes, but well, I wonder if it is legal or illegal, secondly, illegal and fairness might not be the same thing, I hope for both.

It seems it became legal, cos the FIA approved it, but the other teams, were going to the rules they didn't know the FIA had changed (since it was done in secrete), which states in season testing is banned etc. and you need to use a car 2 years old (apart from the other exceptions). Of course, changing the rules, means Perrelli (sp) and the FIA lose a lot of credibility. Which is pretty bad for the only tyre company in F1, that is supposed to provide equal tyres to all teams, and of course the independent governing body.

Maybe Mercedes road drivers were no longer buying Perelli tyres. . .

[LewEngBridewell]

This will no doubt sour Merc's victory somewhat. A shame, because Nico Rosberg drove a blinder. Maybe the unique layout of Monaco flattered the team's tyre performance or something? Who knows...

[vaptin]

This will no doubt sour Merc's victory somewhat. A shame, because Nico Rosberg drove a blinder. Maybe the unique layout of Monaco flattered the team's tyre performance or something? Who knows...

it sours a lot more than that for me, it's really the FIA who have acted like idiots here I think, why keep it a secrete? Cos they knew the other teams wouldn't like it, why wouldn't the other teams like it? Cos the FIA radically changed the standards for one team and handed one team an advantage the other teams don't have (yet at least) in a manner, that condricts the sporting regulations as known to every other team at the time (of the test).

You can't just change the sporting regulations, and not tell anyone, well you can, but it's not really ethical or coherent with good competition is it?

As far as I can see, Mercedes either get a penalty, or the teams are allowed (and Perrelli forced to comply) with doing the exact same test, for every other team on the grid, It should be one team at a time too (otherwise the advantage would be cancelled out), of course it's well, still going to be a little messed up.

[What's Burning?]

Don't think there's anything much to discuss about this. It was pirellis decision and is in the contract that they can perform these tests. Just keep in mind that the test was conducted this year as well and pirelli chose Ferrari for that test. Coincidence?

[vaptin]

Don't think there's anything much to discuss about this. It was pirellis decision and is in the contract that they can perform these tests. Just keep in mind that the test was conducted this year as well and pirelli chose Ferrari for that test. Coincidence?

That was with a two year old car. . . i.e. not illegal.

Is it in their contract, the tests can be done with current race cars? Why is the sporting regulations then, contradicting that?

Anyway, surely it is about openness, and fairness? That test with Ferrari, didn't seem to bother anyone. . . including Redbull who are in more of a fight with Ferrari than Mercedes for the championship.

[racechick]

They didn't test this years tyres they tested next years. They didn't know what tyres were on the car as it was driven. It wasn't secret , they just stayed on after the Spanish GP for anyone to see who cared to. It is pirellis's right apparently to ask any team to test tyres for them. What's the issue?

[andrew]

None of the other teams knew about it.

[vaptin]

They didn't test this years tyres they tested next years. They didn't know what tyres were on the car as it was driven. It wasn't secret , they just stayed on after the Spanish GP for anyone to see who cared to. It is pirellis's right apparently to ask any team to test tyres for them. What's the issue?

The year of the car tested, under article 22

"Red Bull's protest is under article 22.4 of the sporting regulations, which dictates that no on-track testing may take place during a season other than a designated three-day 'young driver test' or straight-line aerodynamic testing."

They can ask teams to test tryes, that doesn't say under this years car.

A Ferrari spokesman added: "Pirelli can offer to the teams the chance to do 1,000km of testing for tyre development and safety. But the fundamental aspect is the year of the car because if you use a current car it should be allegedly a breach of article 22.
"We want a clarification on this because if it is not against article 22 we would be interested in doing this."

posting.php?mode=quote&f=2&p=360130

They did test tyres, planned for use in Canada, the next GP.

[racechick]

None of the other teams knew about it.

What they walked around with their eyes closed at the end of the Spanish GP?

[andrew]

FIA calls hearing into Mercedes' tyre test after Red Bull and Ferrari lodge protests

The FIA Stewards have convened a hearing into Mercedes' post-Spanish GP tyre test after Red Bull and Ferrari both lodged complaints.

Confirmation the test had taken place only emerged at the Monaco Grand Prix, with the protests made ahead of the race which was won by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.

The Silver Arrows completed 1000km at the Circuit de Catalunya over three days in the week after the race in Barcelona and their rivals are unhappy that Mercedes might have gained an unfair advantage.

In-season testing is banned in Formula 1, but both Mercedes and Pirelli believe the running was permitted within the regulations.

Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Pirelli were all been summoned to see the stewards after the race.

The official notice from the FIA read: "Protests have been lodged by Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari concerning an alleged breach of Article 22.4 h) of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations.

"Both teams alleged the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team have conducted three days of track testing using a 2013 car on the 15th, 16th, 17th of May in Barcelona, i.e. between the period that the precedes the start of the first Event of the championship and 31 December of the same year."

The crux of the matter appears to be the use of Mercedes' W04 car in the test.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz after seeing the stewards, Mercedes Team Principal Ross Brawn explained that the test came at Pirelli's request.

The Italian manufacturer is introducing modified tyres in Canada on safety grounds after the delaminations which occurred in Bahrain and Spain. Furthermore, they are also working on next year's specification.

"We obviously explained to them the circumstances behind what happened; I'm reasonably comfortable with what we did," Brawn said.

"We did it at the request of Pirelli. There was a serious issue with the tyres which we've all experienced and that needed fixing as soon as possible.

"We've explained to the stewards what was done and it's now up to them. We're comfortable with the position we're in.

"One point I want to allay is this concept of a 'secret' test. There's never a secret in Formula 1. The test was starting when lots of teams were still in Barcelona packing up, so if we'd wanted a secret test we'd have gone off somewhere where no-one could find us.

"It's a bit of innuendo that's unfortunate.

"We don't know what we were testing. When they present the test programme, all the tyres are anonymous."

Brawn also said that Red Bull and Ferrari had opportunities to conduct additional testing.

"I know why they feel aggrieved by it but it was a Pirelli tyre test, it wasn't a Mercedes test. That's an important thing to understand," he added.

"There's a provision in the contract between Pirelli and the FIA to allow every team to do 1,000km of testing at Pirelli's request.

"Pirelli have requested that in the past and nobody has supported them. So if those teams are aggrieved then perhaps they should look at that aspect."

[LewEngBridewell]

[andrew]

None of the other teams knew about it.

What they walked around with their eyes closed at the end of the Spanish GP?

They would have all left. Merc hid round the corner and went back.

[vaptin]

None of the other teams knew about it.

What they walked around with their eyes closed at the end of the Spanish GP?

I think they didn't realise they used this years car. . . or well, yes, maybe it was open, and every other team missed it by chance, but that seems unlikely.

But there are other issues too. . .