Mercedes/Pirelli International Tribunal - Decision Friday

[phil1993]

The voice of reason, this sums it up well
http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/05/ ... e-testing/

So Ferrari had a test post-Bahrain. Red Bull should also have one at some point.

All seems a fuss over nothing.

If teams need clarification, give Pirelli a 2012 spec car not a 2010 one.

[donald29]

Oh. Doesn't seem so big any more.

[phil1993]

It seems Ferrari used an F10, Mercedes the W04. That's the issue.

I can't see the FIA taking action assuming it's within the regulations.

[mikhailv]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107671

We've had a Horner 'clarification' call. Funny thing is Red Bull has been one of the loudest critics that pushed Pirelli into this.

Can't help but feel the teams created this situation by their failure to agree to provide Pirelli with a car.

But I can understand Mercedes' rivals unhappiness. This could be huge in helping them understand their tyre problems, and winning this race. It's just made worse that this was done in secret. Maybe Pirelli did it in secret because they knew if they ran it by other teams it would be blocked.

What a mess.

these things strike me though Donald;

1) If its in outside the rules of the teams, then a team cant participate but Pirelli can ask.
2) If its outside the rules, then its not allowed for a team to be able to do it
3) If its about delaminations, Force India and Marussia too experienced delaminations; why not have a day each team
4) If it really is legal, why not have each team leave a car, put their test driver and barebones crew, no telemetry available to the teams on the tyre and just run each team 100km of the tyres
5) If its legal, why keep it a secret?
6) If its for the benefit of the sport, why aren't all teams included?
7) 1000km is almost 4 race distances
8) 4 race distances on what is renouned to be a critically deciding track at that? regardless of tyres used it is a HUGE amount of illegal running
9) I call bull on the 2014 tyres; Hembrey himself said zero relevance to 2013 due to completely different power/torque/powertrain levels, the fact they wouldnt be designing tyres to the point of testing before a contract is signed let alone with pull-out threats. They would get no feasable data from 2014 tyre running in any format due to the massive overhaul in rules.

I call bull. Also as I read the rules; No team can do testing in a season. Pirelli can ask a team to do testing should circumstance dictate. Now A) What circumstance singles Mercedes only? B) Teams cant test but Pirelli can C) Why use a 2013 car when their development is a 2010 Lotus?

If this was in the interest of safety for the teams, then all teams should've been present even if they aren't running a car. Why hide this if theres no advantage to be gained? Also, I dont believe delaminations are a safety issue. 5 delaminations correct in 5 races? So what, over 400 sets of tyres used, only 5 single tyres have delaminated. thats less than a 1% failure rate.

bull.

[phil1993]

The rules are hundred of pages long. There's a clause in there somewhere. Mercedes isn't foolish enough to test for 3 days without confirmation.

Mercedes say they had no idea which tyres were fitted at a particular point of the test.

[iceman1]

@janci1612: RB is considering a protest against @MercedesAMGF1. Lauda says test was discussed with a lawyer. They didn't know they drove the Canada spec.

This is getting interesting!

[mikhailv]

Ferrari tested tyres in Bahrain with the 2010 car. Again, why kept secret? All teams should've been notified, and no tests should've been conducted at all.

[donald29]

Yeah. Keeping things a secret is a large part of this being a mess, and makes things look suspicious. It would have been better if had the start of the season Pirelli said 'look, you've not given us a car. We will conduct tests with each of you through the season' and the FIA agreed to that.

They should have also agreed what cars to use, and confirmed test drivers to do the driving.

[phil1993]

But as Kimi says, it's the same for everyone

If Ferrari complain, the irony-meter would go through the roof.

[mikhailv]

I dont really understand what a 2010 car would achieve. 2013 we know exactly what it would.

[phil1993]

Lewis/Nico drove in the secret test.

[mikhailv]

Lauda: We consulted lawyers.

Why consult lawyers if its within the rules and legal?

[donald29]

This is looking worse again.

[mikhailv]

I dont really get why Ferrari used the 2010 car. That ran bridgestones and would have zero relevance to 2013 tyres let alone 2014. The fury with Merc is over using the 2013 tyres.

Now, Pirelli should've openly asked team personel to every test. They should tell each team that from bahrain onwards, after every race they will ask one team to run one or two cars over two days to test. No tyre data will be given, no parts that weren't used Sunday can be used. Again, team personel will be on site from every team at the pit wall.

That way, every team is open, they know when and what is tested. They all use a current car in sunday-spec, and every car gets the same opportunity. Fair, open, honest, simples.

[phil1993]

Teams have to be very careful where they point the finger.

Let's not forget there's a Concorde Agreement to be signed, of which Mercedes want a big part.

Who will supply the 2014 tyres? This sort of issue could force Pirelli just to walk away. Despite all the glamour, F1's teetering on a financial iceberg at the moment - with one team in serious, serious problems according to The Times. This issue may well be the final piece of the puzzle.