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[sagi58]

...Now, an observation about Mercedes... yeah the tire situation blah blah blah, we know all about it, but don't overlook the fact that Mercedes is maintaining the development race over the season with Red Bull...

...But if you look at Mercedes' Achilles heel last year was their inability to keep up the development race. It's not the same team and clearly few people were expecting the turn around they've made.

Exactly!! Mercedes can suddenly improve in their ability to develop their car, during the
season and we should believe it had nothing to do with the 1000km testing with Pirelli?

And, I have a hard time believing that it's fair to compare that with the testing some of the
drivers on the grid participated in during the Young Drivers' Testing! Too many variables for
it to be fair.

Now, the weakness in my argument: How does Red Bull do it?

[racechick]

...Now, an observation about Mercedes... yeah the tire situation blah blah blah, we know all about it, but don't overlook the fact that Mercedes is maintaining the development race over the season with Red Bull...

...But if you look at Mercedes' Achilles heel last year was their inability to keep up the development race. It's not the same team and clearly few people were expecting the turn around they've made.

Exactly!! Mercedes can suddenly improve in their ability to develop their car, during the
season and we should believe it had nothing to do with the 1000km testing with Pirelli?

And, I have a hard time believing that it's fair to compare that with the testing some of the
drivers on the grid participated in during the Young Drivers' Testing! Too many variables for
it to be fair.

Now, the weakness in my argument: How does Red Bull do it?

But the tyres Pirelli are running are new tyres, and Pirelli expected Mercedes to suffer more than any other team by the introduction of this tyre. Their issue with overheating the rears has been going on for years and since the test at Spain. So if they've cracked it, it's fantastic, but not down to the test they did. They do that much running every race and haven't cracked it over the last few seasons, but theyve now got new personel and have been working flat out on this problem. Well it's a great high for Lewis to go to the summer break on. Im hoping like mad that Mercedes have solved the rear tyre wear, and if so.....watch out Vettel!,

[sagi58]

But the tyres Pirelli are running are new tyres, and Pirelli expected Mercedes to suffer more than any other team by the introduction of this tyre. Their issue with overheating the rears has been going on for years and since the test at Spain. So if they've cracked it, it's fantastic, but not down to the test they did. They do that much running every race and haven't cracked it over the last few seasons, but theyve now got new personel and have been working flat out on this problem. Well it's a great high for Lewis to go to the summer break on. Im hoping like mad that Mercedes have solved the rear tyre wear, and if so.....watch out Vettel!,

I know that's what we've been told; but, could we expect Pirelli to announce, after all that testing,
that Mercedes were going to have resolved their tire issues? I'm sorry; but, after reading an article
on La Marca that Pirelli changed the tires for Silverstone, without unanimous consent, I have a very
hard time believing anything that comes out of Hembrey's mouth!

[racechick]

I share your issues with Hembrey, though I also think he's been put in an impossible position by the FIA(Bernie). And I've read that Mercedes tyre issues may not be over, and that twisty track played into their hands. The fast tracks like Monza and Spa may be a different story.

[What's Burning?]

I'm sorry; but, after reading an article
on La Marca that Pirelli changed the tires for Silverstone, without unanimous consent, I have a very
hard time believing anything that comes out of Hembrey's mouth!

No tire compounds were changed at all for Silverstone so you should find a more reliable source for F1 news!

Currently using Tapatalk so I don't have access to all my normal superpowers.

[sagi58]

It took a while; but, I found the article I was referring to. It's not an English publication;
but, then again, I don't think they have the market cornered on knowing what others don't know!!

Pirelli changed tyres without consent at Silverstone - report

F1's tyre scandal could be set to deepen yet further, as a Spanish sports newspaper claims Pirelli - already under reprimand for 'test-gate' - blatantly broke the rules.

Marca correspondent Marco Canseco reports that, prior to the tyre-explosive British grand prix, F1's official supplier changed the construction of its 2013 tyre without the knowledge or the consent of the FIA or the teams.

"At worst, it jeopardised the lives of the drivers," Canseco said, referring to the spate of spectacular tyre failures at the British grand prix that have thrown the sport into crisis.

Marca said the tyres used at Silverstone had a completely new structure, with a layer of kevlar included in the internal steel-belt.

Earlier, teams including Lotus, Force India and Ferrari vetoed the introduction of the purely kevlar-belted tyres, due to the rule requiring unanimity for mid-season changes.

Canseco said he discovered Pirelli's breach when Sauber and McLaren sent team personnel out to the scene of Sunday's tyre explosions, only to discover kevlar shards among the debris.

Pirelli's Paul Hembery denies the charge.

"I can assure you that the tyres (at Silverstone) were the same construction as the ones used in Barcelona," he said.

Reacting to F1's new tyre crisis, the FIA has agreed to open up the forthcoming three-day young driver test at Silverstone to include the use of race drivers for tyre development.

"The test may also be extended by one day," read a statement issued by the Paris federation.

Mercedes, however, remains banned from the test, even though team director Toto Wolff expressed concerns about what the other teams will be allowed to do.

"If it is a pure tyre test, I'm all for it," he is quoted by Germany's Sport Bild.

The FIA also said it will seek the World Motor Sport Council's consent to allow Pirelli to introduce new specifications during the season without the need for unanimity.

"In the meantime," the governing body added, "the FIA has asked Pirelli for an assurance that there will be no repetition of the tyre problems at this weekend's German grand prix or at subsequent grands prix."

If that guarantee is not forthcoming, it is possible drivers will boycott the Nurburgring.

"I don't think that will happen," Bernie Ecclestone told the BBC.

But McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh insists: "There is that danger (of boycott), if it is not certain that it is safe.

"But this is not what we want for F1. We had these problems in Indianapolis (in 2005) and it was terrible for the sport.

"This is not the time to blame anyone," he is quoted by Auto Hebdo, "we need to work together and find a solution."

The Telegraph reports that Pirelli will "almost certainly" use its safer kevlar tyres this weekend.

"We would support this," Lotus boss Eric Boullier, who previously blocked the introduction of the kevlar tyres on sporting grounds, is quoted by AFP news agency.

"Safety is the primary concern," he insisted.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone confirmed: "They (Pirelli) can change them (the tyres).

"(FIA president) Jean (Todt) agreed with that and I told Pirelli."

Influential French sports daily L'Equipe headlined that the sport is "in tatters" after Silverstone, but the most damage has been to Pirelli's image.

"Fortunately they (Pirelli) don't make condoms," joked German tennis legend Boris Becker, according to Welt newspaper.

Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali thinks the Nurburgring will be a "less stressful" circuit for tyres than high-speed Silverstone.

[What's Burning?]

So two teams discover the issue and don't say it to anyone, don't bring it up to the FiA, don't bring it up to the other teams nor to Pirelli? With hard evidence in hand of kevlar sandwiched in between the steel belts.

[sagi58]

Welllll... when you put it that way!!

Anyway, now you know I didn't make it up!!
((Even if maybe they did... ))

[Denthúl]

So two teams discover the issue and don't say it to anyone, don't bring it up to the FiA, don't bring it up to the other teams nor to Pirelli? With hard evidence in hand of kevlar sandwiched in between the steel belts.

It's Marca, are you really surprised?

[sagi58]

It's Marca, are you really surprised?

Is "La Marca" North America's version of "The National Enquirer"?

[What's Burning?]

It's not often in the sport we see a driver say this about their car. It's not often we see a driver say that if he doesn't win it's not because of the car.

ESPNF1 Lewis Hamilton says the Mercedes at his disposal is capable of winning every race for the remainder of the championship.

Having struggled to replicate its qualifying dominance in the race consistently so far this season, Mercedes appears to have overcome its tyre difficulties after Hamilton's victory in Hungary. With father Anthony saying in 2012 that Hamilton needed to win 10 races to win the championship, Hamilton says he now feels the W04 is quick enough to do so.

"Last year I didn't feel like I had the car to win 10 races," Hamilton told The Independent. "But this year I feel I have a car that can win 10 races. The tyres are going to play a massive part of that, but I truly believe in this car. It feels awesome. It feels like it's there with the Red Bulls and the Lotuses. [In Hungary] I think our pace was very similar.

"If we can continue with that qualifying pace, get ourselves up front and have the tyres working as they did, we can fight with them. The Mercedes is different to other cars I've driven. It's one of the best. The 2008 McLaren was pretty good. I want to say the Mercedes is even better than that."

Hamilton also said that he expects to be strong at the upcoming races in Belgium and Italy, increasing his belief that he can challenge for the championship.

"The tracks coming up should suit me. I am really looking forward to the second half of the season; it's normally my favourite part. We have still got improvements to make but this is a good step in Hungary."

[1Lemon]

Thing is about Merc, they have a bright future and I look forward to more front runners fighting right to the end for a championship, I'd also like to see Nico win at least one WDC and Hamilton win at least one more. But is it just me who struggles to get attached to them somehow? The way I see it is their not punching above their weight in the way FI were; they have huge financial backing, two of the best drivers, the best management and the best designers; I just feel that when they win it's a case of "well yes they should be winning".

Personally I can't wait until the day we have a Ferrari, Merc, Red Bull, McLaren and Lotus and Williams fighting for the championship on the last race of a season: a raining Brazil

Which is why I feel that when ESPN writes

Mercedes appears to have overcome its tyre difficulties

I question it because, really, they didn't overcome the issue quite as much as it makes out, they improved yes, but then they were given testing earlier in the season than everyone else, then Pirelli changed tyre compound, which the Merc seems to work well with as they didn't have any prior testing with this hybrid compound (That we know of, the original tyre test may have had this current compound we don't know).

I expect them to be way up there at the end of the year, enough to catch Vettel? That remains to be seen, but it's a bit late to start making a push now. Stranger things have happened in F1 though; tis' why we love it!

[sagi58]

It's not often in the sport we see a driver say this about their car. It's not often we see a driver say that if he doesn't win it's not because of the car.

I think part of that attitude has to do with the fact that Hamilton is much happier at Mercedes, this year!
Good to see!!

[Hammer278]

Thing is about Merc, they have a bright future and I look forward to more front runners fighting right to the end for a championship, I'd also like to see Nico win at least one WDC and Hamilton win at least one more. But is it just me who struggles to get attached to them somehow? The way I see it is their not punching above their weight in the way FI were; they have huge financial backing, two of the best drivers, the best management and the best designers; I just feel that when they win it's a case of "well yes they should be winning".

Personally I can't wait until the day we have a Ferrari, Merc, Red Bull, McLaren and Lotus and Williams fighting for the championship on the last race of a season: a raining Brazil

Really...I don't really think much about the money that is poured in when these cars are circling the track, I just see an awesome marque carrying two great drivers (1 being currently the best in F1) and the huge 'Petronas' logo (which reminds me of home) with a team boss who's been in the sport since forever and achieved more success than most...and all the news during the offseason with management restructuring now taking effect. I see a Ferrari 2000-2005 style domination restarting, but this time painted silver.

If this team were BMW, I might even think of getting a tattoo of some sort no matter how sad that sounds.

[What's Burning?]

The way I see it is their not punching above their weight in the way FI were; they have huge financial backing, two of the best drivers, the best management and the best designers; I just feel that when they win it's a case of "well yes they should be winning".

Red Bull spends most, (nearly twice as much from what I've read) followed by Ferrari, I'm sure McLaren is up there, more so now likely that they're paying for the Mercedes Engines. Where Mercedes is, more than likely is the McLaren level of spend, but I'm guessing they're behind McLaren.