Mercedes and Ferrari in 'secret' Pirelli tyre tests

[KekeTheKing]

It does remain to be seen how important an (in-season) Young Driver's Test can prove to be. These have been quite low key affairs in the far flung reaches of the Middle East prior to this year. It's possible that not running at Silverstone in this test could be detrimental to Mercedes' season. It can't be stated with any amount of certainty how this scenario will play out. As suggested earlier, the weather could play a big part here as well.

 

[Lewywo4]

Hah, Hah, that wouldn't have anything to do with the possibility that it was Merc this week and maybe Ferrari next ??

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more, say no more.

Keep calm and carry on chaps.

.................

Common sense prevailed........

 

[F1Yorkshire]

All seems to be too well sorted. Think I should throw in another theory to get the conspiracy fans talking.

If Mercedes were found guilty, fined and thrown out of the constructors then surely shouldn't Ferrari be subject to the same punishment as they are guilty of the same if not more severe crimes due to the allegation of extra parts testing that went on.

The FIA were caught between a rock and a hard place, they couldn't dole out any punishment to Mercedes without bringing in Ferrari too and it wouldn't be done to damage the reputation of your favoured team!

 

[The Artist.....]

Well, presumably, McLaren will be doing their usual trick of running their "young driver" - in Gary Paffett.....

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Well he is young... compared to Lauda and Moss!

 

[Fenderman]

Well, he is young ... compared to me

 

[jez101]

Storm in a teacup. Brawn was always going to be in the clear with Charlie in the loop. Never in doubt. I really admire the way he handled himself throughout.

F1 gets billions of column inches during an awkward 3 week break in the middle of the season. No one gets hurt. Onto the next saga.

 

[Fenderman]

Full statement from Mercedes:

​

"The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team acknowledges and accepts the Decision of the FIA International Tribunal published today. The Decision of the International Tribunal confirmed that the team acted in good faith regarding the Pirelli Tests, never intended to obtain any unfair sporting advantage and had no reason to believe that approval for the Pirelli Tests had not been given. Mercedes accepts the proportionate penalties of a reprimand and suspension from the forthcoming Young Driver Test that have been decided upon by the Tribunal."​

​

"Mercedes would like to once again restate its firm belief in proper due process and commend the FIA for the principle of an independent disciplinary body. The team would furthermore like to thank the International Tribunal and its President for the fair hearing it received yesterday. In the best interests of the sport, the team does not intend to avail itself of any right to appeal the Decision."​

​

"Mercedes looks forward to working with the FIA and its fellow competitors to establish a more rigorous procedure for testing in the future, particularly to support the appointed tyre supplier. We now wish to bring this matter to a close and focus on the forthcoming British and German Grands Prix, both of which are important home races for the team."​

Hopefully the positive thing to come out of this debacle will be proper attention to the core problem as acknowledged by Mercedes at least (sentence in bold - my highlighting and underlines).

 

[Brogan]

We now wish to bring this matter to a close and focus on the forthcoming British and German Grands Prix"

Hopefully Hamilton and Rosberg won't be wearing anonymous black helmets to protect them from fans.

 

[Fenderman]

... or an irate Christian Horner ...

 

[Fenderman]

Little snippet from http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/6/14689.html

" Both Mercedes and Pirelli have also been reprimanded and they will each share the costs of the case equally with the FIA."

Tacit admission that the FIA were partially at fault?

 

[Brogan]

Ferrari are not amused.

http://formula1.ferrari.com/news/horse-whisperer-crime-punishment-but-light-one

Every cloud has a silver lining

 

[Fenderman]

The Horse Whisperer has a very convenient short term memory loss or bad case of selective and limited hearing, vision and thought process. One would have thought that following this part of the IT's ruling they would keep their mouths shut:

"(iv) The Tribunal is unable to express any opinion as to whether or not the testing carried out by Ferrari in 2012 and 2013 was properly authorised but, it would appear to be equally unsatisfactory that this consent was also given by Charlie Whiting, the Tribunal has no evidence before it which indicates that his opinion in that case had in fact been wrong."

 

[cider_and_toast]

You don't think the tribunal went easy on Mercedes because they've been in F1 since the 1950's do you ?? That wouldn't be fair as no other team gets that consideration.

 

[Fenderman]

No.

On another note, some quotes from Hembery responding to the IT ruling:

"Of course it doesn't take away our need to be able to test in representative conditions with representative cars. We're still running round in obsolete, almost museum pieces, trying to do our job so there's still a lot of work to be done to allow us to do what we call representative testing going forward."

"We all have to take note of what's happened and the reasons for it and try to do a better job going forward. That means all of us; the teams, ourselves as the supplier to the sport and also the FIA," he added.

"So learn some lessons but, as I say, the real issue for us is we still have to find a way of performing representative testing."

"You need the correct cars and you need the top drivers. You need to be pushing the product to its extremes because that allows us to understand where we are. Running as we are now with a 2010 Renault, you turn up for the start of the season with cars that you're not sure what developments they've had, what jumps they've made in terms of performance."

Now he tells us ...

 

[Johnny Carwash]

The 2nd line of that horse whisperer article made me laugh, "it sums up the mood of millions of fans". so that's the tifosi they mean then.

 

[Jen]

My thoughts, for what they are worth.

The verdict/punishment was what had to be - derisory, but well played by Mercedes.

The FIA, once again, covered their incompetence.

Charlie Whiting will be retiring soon.

 

[F1ang-o]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/formula-1/8787056/brawn-accepts-decision
RB

 

[Jen]

Couldn't do anything else really, could he?

 

[teabagyokel]

With those that are at least two years old, you can run when you like, where you like, with any driver you like, dressed how you like, inviting who you like.

Emphasis mine.