Mercedes accused of illegal tyre testing by Red Bull & Ferrari

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Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster

Had the teams unanimously agreed to a rule change

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This is why Pirelli, the FIA, Mercedes and some other teams are all foaming at the mouth right now! They know something has to happen for Pirelli to give them what they need - safe tyres - but do you think unanimous agreement will ever be reached?

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Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster

What Ross Brawn wants us to believe is that Merc played with open cards, which I don't think they did. They probably packed away enough stuff still, since I doubt they left their huge-arse Motorhome standing for the whole week. Even the FIA said it was completely left in the dark about that test. How does one pull that off without at least some subterfuge? It's not like all FIA officials run off as soon as the flag drops. I simply don't buy Brawn's reasoning. Every farkin' straight-line test and show event is reported in the media and somehow Merc managed to keep a full-blown 3 day test a secret by being completely open with all other people? Who's supposed to buy that?

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Had Charlie Whiting told the rest of the FIA? The FIA lawyers were consulted, what about JT?

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Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster

What Ross Brawn wants us to believe is that Merc played with open cards, which I don't think they did. They probably packed away enough stuff still, since I doubt they left their huge-arse Motorhome standing for the whole week. Even the FIA said it was completely left in the dark about that test.

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That was a point I made earlier in this thread but I didn't feel it supported your speculation about returning after two days. Much of their pit equipment would have remained and its not unknown for teams to help each other load certain cargo. Cars are usually queued up in covered sheets and you'd think the teams would notice if a teams cars were missing. The motorhomes would have gone of course.

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Originally Posted by henners88

Perhaps its the smaller details that have got Ferrari and Red Bull in a twist rather than your suggestion Mercedes packed up and returned? We have to remember that even if Mercedes were staying behind to test, much of their equipment like Motorhomes, lorries, and race personnel would have packed up and gone home to Blighty, only leaving behind essentials for running a test car.

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Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster

Even the FIA said it was completely left in the dark about that test.

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Apart from FIA Formula One Race Director Mr Charlie Whiting of course. Its claimed he gave the Okay for the test to continue but the details about his contact with the rest of the FIA is stretchy. It would be the first time teams have approached Charlie for his opinion or guidance and then the governing body give a totally different set of guidelines afterwards. Often at the expense of a team losing out financially or by constructors points.

without any fia official there to oversee the test how do we know that they did not use engines outside the 8 allowed ?

Why do I have a feeling this is a favour Bernie called in for Mercedes?

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Originally Posted by Bagwan

Given that Merc won this one , it shows us , and hopefully the FIA , that testing is important .

Ambiguous wording will let Merc off the hook , but will force the FIA to schedule a 1000km test for all the teams .

They will all get the same chance to sort their cars , and Pirelli will see the current cars on their tires and have a chance to get real data .

Tough to reconcile the advantage Merc has taken , though , in terms of the championship .
Perhaps , while the other teams wait for their own tests , the Mercs could be demoted grid positions at each GP until the tests are done .
It is an awkward time though , as they leave for Canada .

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If Merc simply did a tyre test, wouldn't allowing other teams to collect data in their own tests be somewhat of an advantage? Of course if that is a punishment then its different.

This new "tyregate" scandal underscores how stupid and ridiculous F1 has gotten with the current tires. I mean, if most teams do not understand how tires work and require additional testing after 5-6 GPs now, things have gotten really wrong. This is so ridiculous. Imagine if engine manufacturers were to ship mystery engines that no one understood how to use until they blow up in each car 5-6 times early in the season. This is why we need to bring back tire competition. Once tire manufacturers compete with each other, no one of them will dare to bring a mystery tire that no one understands how to use.

The problem lies in the fact that tyres are the single most important factor on an F1 car. Make the tyres as banal as possible, and the focus switches even more to aero.

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Originally Posted by SGWilko

The problem lies in the fact that tyres are the single most important factor on an F1 car. Make the tyres as banal as possible, and the focus switches even more to aero.

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That's what was the case in most of F1's lifetime since the early 70s and F1 survived well. Can't remember ever seeing such farcical races in succession. Since China every grand prix has been worse than the one before.

Another nice viewpoint from JS

A curious turn of events | joeblogsf1

Will we see Bibendum back in 2014? Tyres that are designed to improve economy float my boat!