Pirelli 2013

[hollus]

Who was driving in the Pirelli-Mercedes-Barcelona test?

[Maxion]

Who was driving in the Pirelli-Mercedes-Barcelona test?

Hamilton & Rosberg with the 2013 car.

[King Six]

Well it seems that Pirelli + Mercedes have broken a number of rules...

- Not providing every team the "opportunity" to have their car used for Pirelli tyre testing
- Not telling the FIA about the testing before doing so
- Using their personnel (including drivers) instead of Pirelli personnel and testing drivers

Which sounds very much like Mercedes got an extra pre-season test under their belts if they were given so much. The evidence is pretty damning, if true. I remember reading somewhere that Rosberg and Hamilton were both involved.

I'm not sure what the punishment would be in this case, a fine for Pirelli. What about Mercedes? I think there will be some hefty fines here but I doubt you'll see the sorts of punishments that Renault was given for telling Piquet Jr to crash or McLaren for conducting industrial espionage against Ferrari...

But an extra 1000km is a pretty hefty advantage...

[cirrusflyer]

Well it seems that Pirelli + Mercedes have broken a number of rules...

- Not providing every team the "opportunity" to have their car used for Pirelli tyre testing
- Not telling the FIA about the testing before doing so
- Using their personnel (including drivers) instead of Pirelli personnel and testing drivers
..

Read the last two paragraph: http://www.f1technical.net/news/18446

[ESPImperium]

Ferrari tested at Barcelona with a F10 with Alguersauri at the wheel.

Mercedes tested at Barcelona with a W04 with Rosberg & Hamilton at the wheel.

Ferraris points:
1) Why was Mercedes using a 2013 spec car
2) Why was 2013 race drivers at the wheel

Red Bulls point
3) Why were we not asked to conduct the tyre test?

Mercedes/Pirelli will have to satisfy WMSC that all 3 of those points were in writing and known to FIA to be cleared. If any of those 3 points are not satisfied, id expect Mercedes will sit out a race or two or be told that they will loose 3 days testing in pre season next year and Pirelli will be fined, and then announce a pull out. Point 3 may be easiest to prove, points 1&2 not so easy.

[turbof1]

Well it seems that Pirelli + Mercedes have broken a number of rules...

- Not providing every team the "opportunity" to have their car used for Pirelli tyre testing
- Not telling the FIA about the testing before doing so
- Using their personnel (including drivers) instead of Pirelli personnel and testing drivers

Which sounds very much like Mercedes got an extra pre-season test under their belts if they were given so much. The evidence is pretty damning, if true. I remember reading somewhere that Rosberg and Hamilton were both involved.

I'm not sure what the punishment would be in this case, a fine for Pirelli. What about Mercedes? I think there will be some hefty fines here but I doubt you'll see the sorts of punishments that Renault was given for telling Piquet Jr to crash or McLaren for conducting industrial espionage against Ferrari...

But an extra 1000km is a pretty hefty advantage...

FIA officially stated that the team may provide the drivers. That's no violation. Further, the test needs to be "carried out by Pirelli", which is in these matters a hugely ambigious explaination, and I doubt the official word in the contract is more clear on that. It needs to be carried out by Pirelli. Are Mercedes allowed to help Pirelli in that? Are Mercedes allowed to monitor the driver and car which are their property? Are Mercedes banned from the circuit and any information for 3 days while only Pirelli can interact with what Mercedes provided?

And then we have this "offering of the same oppertunity to all teams". Does that offering have to be at the same time, or can that also be done on a later time?

And they did informed the FIA on their intent, but did not gave additional info on that. That looks the most likely breach on the contract.

Above all, it painfully shows the FIA failed at providing stringent rules about the necessary procedures and the boundaries in what is allowed to. They clarified 3 important points though with their press release:

-the contract supercedes the sporting rules
-A 2013 car IS allowed
-A 2013 driver from the same team IS allowed.

[MOWOG]

It's a part of a plot by Le Grand Bernard, according to ESPN F1 (Yeah, maybe not the most authoritative source, but whatever...)

The Hankook Connection

[QLDriver]

It seems to me that Mercedes probably have some strong lines of defence - if it's considered permissible to run the current car and drivers (which it seems the FIA agree on).

After all, it's not Mercedes' business whether Pirelli contact all of the other teams and invite them to participate. If there were no setup changes made (which is strongly implied by the press releases - it was a standard set up car to put mileage on the tyres), then it's going to be limited in the insight into the setup changes required to get the tyres to perform better.

It strikes me that Pirelli are on slightly shakier ground, if they didn't actually offer the opportunity to other teams.

Frankly I'd be surprised if there were serious sanctions either way. It doesn't seem like either organization acted with the intent to break the rules, and what interest would it serve to sanction them (I'm considering the situation with Renault when they were found to be in possession of McLaren's data, yet weren't sanctioned).

It seems like the best path would be to clarify the rules and contract, and prevent recurrence.

[CHT]

I think one possible outcome will be that FIA might impose restriction on Merc for the next test session.

[Cam]

It's a part of a plot by Le Grand Bernard, according to ESPN F1 (Yeah, maybe not the most authoritative source, but whatever...)

The Hankook Connection

I would proffer that rather than being a conspiracy, having a 'plan B' supplier is a no brainer. What should worry Pirelli is not the handshake in principal agreement with Bernie, but the lack of any kind of agreement from the teams. It's their cash and how many are happy? Honestly. How many teams are happy?

This whole saga has been handled poorly from all sides with ultimately no winners.

[SectorOne]

I can´t see how Mercedes will get punished in this. It´s Pirelli´s job to inform other teams.
Mercedes looks to have done things right and you can´t really expect them to inform their competitors about being "hired" by Pirelli to do a test.

We never heard anything about Ferrari doing a test in Bahrain regardless if it was with GP2 tires and an old car (which doesn´t make any sense at all since using a GP2 car would have been so much more simpler)

[astracrazy]

Ferraris points:
1) Why was Mercedes using a 2013 spec car
2) Why was 2013 race drivers at the wheel

Red Bulls point
3) Why were we not asked to conduct the tyre test?

Mercedes/Pirelli will have to satisfy WMSC that all 3 of those points

Why will Merc need to? Pirelli held the test. Merc are allowed to use the current car and drivers. Merc have nothing to do with who was asks, who was choosen and who Pirelli told about the test.

In future there should be a tyre test which is official. After the Barcelona race, 1 car per team, reserve drivers.

[FoxHound]

I think one possible outcome will be that FIA might impose restriction on Merc for the next test session.

On what grounds?

Mercedes where asked by Pirelli, who had clearance form the FIA.

[FoxHound]

There is a document signed by the FIA which permitted the test apparently.

The FIA have said they "may" go before the international tribunal. So dependant on what has been signed, this could be closed before it gets anywhere near that.

[turbof1]

There is a document signed by the FIA which permitted the test apparently.

The FIA have said they "may" go before the international tribunal. So dependant on what has been signed, this could be closed before it gets anywhere near that.

Source about this document??