Mercedes has escaped any major punishment for its involvement in the ‘private’ tyre test carried out by Pirelli following the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
The International Tribunal convened on Thursday to go over the evidence presented by three parties; Mercedes, Pirelli and the FIA.
The outcome sees the German outfit reprimanded and banned from participating in the Young Driver Test next month – both of which are punishments Mercedes expected.
Pirelli meanwhile was also reprimanded – though it argues it cannot be punished as it doesn’t come under the jurisdiction of the FIA as a supplier, rather than a competitor.
Mercedes were found to have been in breach of the regulations for carrying out a 1000km test with a 2013 car, but the IT’s Edwin Glasgow QC argued that they did it unwittingly having thought they had the required permission after discussions with race director Charlie Whiting and the FIA’s lawyers.
The cost of the trial will be split equally between all three parties – suggesting all three were at fault in their own right.
The punishment means Sam Bird, and possibly Daniel Juncadella, will not get any time behind the wheel of the W04 during the test at Silverstone.
Mercedes have confirmed they will not appeal the decision.
Discussion about this post