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[What's Burning?]

Pirelli really screwd the pooch. Mercedes can't be blamed in the slightest and will come out of it smelling rose.
However any team that wants to test should be allowed to.

[vaptin]

Pirelli really screwd the pooch. Mercedes can't be blamed in the slightest and will come out of it smelling rose.
However any team that wants to test should be allowed to.

Well, if the FIA approved this test (and properly approved it, with the race car) then you can't blame Mercedes. But well, I think the FIA messed up, why the hell were Mercedes allowed an exception to the rules? And were the other teams not informed?

This has been submitted by the race stewards at this event (the FIA investigation), I am guessing not the same set of people who approved the Mercedes test, and I guess those people are the ones who the report is being submitted too.

But well, if the teams are sure, they may make it an external legal procedure I think (like the DDD), the noise will probably die down though if well, the other teams get this chance too, this season.

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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."
Mercedes' test is the second tyre test conducted by Pirelli this season. The first was done by Ferrari between the Bahrain and Spanish Grands Prix but involved a 2011 car.

I guess this hinges, on, when Mercedes asked for permission, did the FIA give it under the impression it was for the current car and race drivers? If yes, then why (on the part of the FIA), and if no, then Mercedes are in trouble, and Perrelli haven't really done anything wrong.

I guess chances are, Perrelli may have asked for Mercedes to test with the current car too.

[f1boy]

Mercedes Benz tested with Pirelli because Mercedes Benz sell millions of road cars per year and Pirelli didn't want their tyres putting a Mercedes Benz F1 car from pole position to nowhere.

Mercedes Benz blames the tyres, Red Bull blames the tyres, Ferrari blames the tyres.

Who sells the most road cars per year?

[vaptin]

Mercedes Benz tested with Pirelli because Mercedes Benz sell millions of road cars per year and Pirelli didn't want their tyres putting a Mercedes Benz F1 car from pole position to nowhere.

Mercedes Benz blames the tyres, Red Bull blames the tyres, Ferrari blames the tyres.

Who sells the most road cars per year?

But it's the FIA's job to enforce the rules. Which it seems they haven't done. Or at least, it seems they've changed the rules.

It also detracts from well, competition.

[f1boy]

It's all about money and power. The FIA haven't enforced the rules because it's Mercedes Benz we are talking about here.
Ferrari have had the same level of power for years.

[andrew]

Mercedes Benz tested with Pirelli because Mercedes Benz sell millions of road cars per year and Pirelli didn't want their tyres putting a Mercedes Benz F1 car from pole position to nowhere.

Mercedes Benz blames the tyres, Red Bull blames the tyres, Ferrari blames the tyres.

Who sells the most road cars per year?

Nissan/Infiniti probably as these cars are more affordable and more accessible to regular Joes.

[What's Burning?]

Nissan/Infinity puts a logo on an F1 car, you really think they do any more than that?

The thing that's not being mentioned is that the clause is there and is reserved at Pirelli's discretion and it's a safety related issue. Perhaps Pierelli was afraid that there could be some serious issue and given the Mercedes has the most noticeable problem with the tires, it makes sense to ask Mercedes and it makes sense to test on this year's car.

Mercedes will bear no fault in this whole brouhaha.

[f1boy]

But they aren't top end cars. Mercedes Benz trades on it's history.
Rightly or wrongly, Pirelli tyres not working on a Mercedes Benz F1 car is not on the agenda imo.

You must see how power and influence works ffs. This is F1 we are talking about here, not the Clio Cup.

[vaptin]

It's all about money and power. The FIA haven't enforced the rules because it's Mercedes Benz we are talking about here.
Ferrari have had the same level of power for years.

Then it loses value to fans, and people switch off. And to be honest, other teams will probably decide its not worth it, again, devaluing the sport as a whole.

I think if we go by value brought to F1, Redbull and Ferrari and McLaren probably have more fans than Mercedes.

Also, the rules err, might get enforced in future, or, they might end up being made fair for everyone.

Also, in terms of overall value, Redbull are probably worth more to F1 than Mercedes is.

[andrew]

But they aren't top end cars. Mercedes Benz trades on it's history.
Rightly or wrongly, Pirelli tyres not working on a Mercedes Benz F1 car is not on the agenda imo.

You must see how power and influence works ffs. This is F1 we are talking about here, not the Clio Cup.

The target market is irrelevant. It's about no. of units sold. I wonder how many tins of Red Bull are sold each year compared to overly priced Merc's and Ferrari's?

Nissan/Infinity puts a logo on an F1 car, you really think they do any more than that?

Still part of F1, even though they stick their name on some engines made by Renault.

[f1boy]

I agree vaptin, it does devalue the sport, but let's not pretend that F1 is really about racing.

It's really about money i.e...the selling of goods, whether that is Watches, Cars, Tyres or Drinks.

You must see that, especially after todays race in Monaco.

[Denthúl]

Mercedes will bear no fault in this whole brouhaha.

It depends on which part of the regulations takes precedence, I guess.

[f1boy]

But motor racing is aimed at the motor business, not energy drinks.

This is why Mercedes Benz and Ferrari....i.e engine builders and car manufactures will always be ahead of Red Bull, where power and influence are concerned.

I'm not saying it's right, but let's face it, Red Bull have always been laughed at and everyone knows that Adrian Newey is the man.
Everything else is just a side show to his skill.

[andrew]

Red Bull have proven a lot of people wrong.

[vaptin]

I agree vaptin, it does devalue the sport, but let's not pretend that F1 is really about racing.

It's really about money i.e...the selling of goods, whether that is Watches, Cars, Tyres or Drinks.

You must see that, especially after todays race in Monaco.

My point is, devaluing the sport, devalues it's commercial power, people just won't take it seriously and the like.