Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has confirmed he was asked if his outfit would like to take part in a tyre test with a 2013 car, but declined on the basis he believed it wasn’t legal.
The Milton Keynes team are one of two – the other being Ferrari – to have lodged protests against Mercedes and Pirelli after the test came to light in Monaco a fortnight ago.
One matter of contention is whether all the teams were asked if they would like the opportunity to test. Pirelli claim some said yes, others no and some failed to reply.
Horner has revealed that Red Bull were indeed asked, but refused the opportunity because he felt it was a “clear breach” of the regulations.
“We believe it is the responsibility of the entrant to comply with the regulations,” he said during Friday’s press conference.
“It is really an issue between the team and the FIA and obviously Pirelli have asked several teams to test – ourselves included – but we have declined to do so as we felt it wasn’t in line with the regulations, certainly with the current car.
“That is the situation, it has gone to the tribunal and we trust the FIA to make the appropriate decision regarding it.”
He also insists Mercedes learned from the 1,000km three-day event.
“Even if you are testing a component for another supplier you are learning. Formula 1 has moved an awfully long way over the last few years to ensure fairness and equality to all of the entrants and I think if a team does carry out an extra 1,000km with a current car then you are going to learn something.”
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