Pirelli 2013

[Huntresa]

Update from Paris via Sky Sports News' Craig Slater: FIA has opened the hearing by outlining its case and declared that although there was communication between the governing body and Mercedes, it was only 'informal' and they were not informed of the terms of the test

[turbof1]

From that same source:

"Informal word from the hearing is that Pirelli are also in the dock over Testgate as their own contract with the FIA stipulates that they are also bound to F1's rules, in effect meaning that in that regard there is no way round the regs for them either."

[Blanchimont]

Live from Paris (sorry, it's in German)

[turbof1]

This one is in english (thanks Huntresa for pointing it out):

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/new ... al-updates

[Blanchimont]

From the AMS Ticker:

Mark Howard says, it was Mercedes' decision to test with the 2013 car, as no 2011 car was ready to be run.

[Phil]

Oh boy... am I the only one thinking that so far, this looks very bad for Mercedes? Bad in the sense, that a severe punishment might be coming their way... so far, the sky looks quite black after what Mark Howard is saying.

10:26 Jetzt kommt Pirelli unter Druck. Der Reifenhersteller hat es nach Ansicht des FIA-Anklägers versäumt, alle andere Teams einzuladen um Wettbewerbsverzerrung auszuschließen. Weiterhin wurde es unterlassen, die FIA über einen solchen Test zu informieren. Die FIA-Zustimmung zu einem solchen Test könne nur gegeben werden, wenn sie weiß, wann und wo und mit welchen Fahrern dieser Test stattfinden solle. Das sei unterlassen worden. Allerdings habe dieser Test auf jeden Fall unter den Bedingungen von Artikel 22 des Sportgesetzes stattzufinden. FIA-Gesetze können laut Howard nur vom FIA-Weltrat geändert werden.

My quick translation:
10:26. Pirelli under pressure. The tyre manufacturer, as viewed by Mark Howard, missed the opportunity to inform and invite other teams to avoid an unfair advantage. They also missed the opportunity to inform the FIA about the test. The FIA could only give its approval for such a test, when the FIA knows, when and where and with which drivers such a test would be conducted. This was not done. One way or the other, this test would need to be run under article 22 under the sporting regulation (I assume article 22 states that no current car is used?!). FIA rules can only be changed by the FIA board.

[dave34m]

Oh boy... am I the only one thinking that so far, this looks very bad for Mercedes?

Well so far maybe, but we have only heard a few bits from 1 side, wait until Pirelli and Mercedes have their say

[Huntresa]

Breaking news from the hearing: The 'informal' contact between Mercedes and Charlie Whiting, in which the team requested permission to take part in the test, took place in the form of a telephone call.

Whiting then took advice from the FIA's legal department who expressed the opinion that their participation could be allowed IF all the other teams were copied in to provide their acquisence and had an equal opportunity to test.

As they were not, the FIA continues to maintain that the test was illegal and the conditions set out by Whiting were not met'.


So who were to invite the rest from that statement ? Pirelli or Merc, since this was Merc contact with FIA, not Pirellis.

[turbof1]

I have to admit, this will be very difficult for Mercedes. I can't see them succesfully defending themselves now that their main argument is whiped from the table.

[skoop]

just a little conspiration theory came to my mind. (i've to study for my exams so my mind goes off and thinks about everything but micro computers right now)
why says pirelli they testet 2014 tires and merc says they tested 2013 tires?
is it possible that pirelli tricked merc into testing? telling them "we've got everything under control. we informed every team and we got a contract and we're safe" knowing as a tire supplier and the only realistic option vor '14 they can't be punished? and merc trusted them?

[Huntresa]

just a little conspiration theory came to my mind. (i've to study for my exams so my mind goes off and thinks about everything but micro computers right now)
why says pirelli they testet 2014 tires and merc says they tested 2013 tires?
is it possible that pirelli tricked merc into testing? telling them "we've got everything under control. we informed every team and we got a contract and we're safe" knowing as a tire supplier and the only realistic option vor '14 they can't be punished? and merc trusted them?

No cause Merc knew after their contact with FIA and Charlie that they needed to tell everyone else, or maybe they interpreted that as Pirelli would invite teams ?

[Huntresa]

Good comment on the skysports live coverage,

"Explain this to me, the FIA were aware of the test and allowed it to take place but didn't ensure the conditions they had put in place were meet? Is this the way F1 is now, everything is legal until someone complains?"

That rly sums it up, cause the FIA we know knew about the test but didnt actually check if their req were meet, so that means if this test had never been brought into daylight with Red Bull and Ferrari protests the FIA wouldnt have done anything.

So how can they now sit and plead against Pirelli and Merc ? Why didnt they stop it in the first place or themself brought up the protests since they ARE the governing body...


This stinks...

[astracrazy]

I have to admit, this will be very difficult for Mercedes. I can't see them succesfully defending themselves now that their main argument is whiped from the table.

i don't get why people say this is a Merc issue. It doesn't matter if its informal or not, the fia can't turn that around. Permission is permission. Yes, the guide was as long as all teams were invited. But this is a pirelli issue not Merc. They were invited so they went along, just because no one else was invited to the party isn't there problem.

Merc will walk away from this scott free. They took part in an illegal test, yes. But was lead to believe it was legal - that may be by Charlie saying its ok or/and in trusting pirelli will take the correct steps to comply with the fia guidelines and trusting the fia will make sure those guideline were met before the test took place

it seems the fia haven't actually carried out there job properly (in making sure the guidelines were met) so there trying to point the finger

[skoop]

that makes sense
i'm wondering what defense strategy merc has. they have to be very sure about what they're doing if they insisted on the tribunal instead of making a deal with FIA and redbull.
this is better than every soap opera

[Huntresa]

If anything the FIA should be fined for not doing their work...