Ross Brawn talks to Sky Sports about his stance on the outcome of the F1 Testgate FIA International Tribunal Hearing.
Tag: international tribunal
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Mercedes escape F1 Testgate with a slap on the wrist
The International Tribunal announced today that Mercedes will be suspended from the upcoming Young Drivers Test in Silverstone and handed both the team and Pirelli a reprimand for their parts in the Testgate saga.
Following a 7 hour hearing on Thursday and a morning of deliberating on the verdict it was announced that both parties were guilty and were being punished for contravening sporting regulations.
The panel decided that Mercedes did act in breach of Article 22.4 of the sporting regulations which forbids any in-season testing with a current car and ruled that they “did maintain some material advantage” which “at least potentially, gave it an unfair sporting advantage.
Both Mercedes and Pirelli were also found to be in breach of Articles 1 and 151 of the International Sporting Code which covers cases of bringing the sport into disrepute.
One would expect a rather hefty punishment for such serious breaches of regulations but mitigating factors came into play. The panel found that there was no intention by either Pirelli or Mercedes to gain “any unfair sporting advantage”. They also found that neither Pirelli nor Mercedes acted in bad faith. Further they found that Pirelli and Mercedes “disclosed to the FIA at least the essence of what they intended to do in relation to the test and attempted to obtain permission for it; and Mercedes had no reason to believe that approval had not been given”. Lastly that the actions of Charlie Whiting, who had indicated the test would be permissible, were “taken in good faith and with the intention of assisting the parties and consistent with sporting fairness”.The end result? A slap on the wrist really. The panel chose to hand down the punishment suggested by Mercedes themselves during the hearing.
Let’s take a look at what this Testgate “punishment” really means. There is absolutely no doubt that Mercedes got off very lightly when one considers the rules they are said to have breached.
The first question is around the reprimand. I’d really like to know what a reprimand really is because the FIA seems to hand out a great deal of them. As far as I know a reprimand is something along the lines of, “That was very naughty boys! Bad, bad behaviour!”.
If that’s the punishment for breaching F1 regulations, why would any teams bother adhering to rules in future?
What is really perplexing though is the young driver test suspension which the panel handed down in order to place the other teams “in a similar position to that in which Mercedes is in”. Really? A similar position? How is a 3 day test with senior drivers, on a circuit you have all to yourself in any way similar to a 3 day test with rookie drivers on a circuit with 9 other teams?
The real losers here are the young drivers who will now no longer be able to take part in the F1 test they have no doubt been dreaming about for the last couple of months. Sam Bird, who would have driven in the young driver test for Mercedes is the guy who’s really getting punished at the end of the day. A real pity that.
If this is the punishment, then one has to believe that it is entirely farcical. A big show from the FIA so that they are able to say that they did in fact hand down a punishment. The FIA were in the wrong here in the first place since they really did allow the test as the evidence showed. They
would of course never put their hands up and say they were in the wrong so it seems like they did the best they could and slapped Merc on the wrist. What they didn’t think about, clearly, is the young driver getting the short end of the stick.
Ferrari and Red Bull, who raised the Testgate protest to start off with, are bound to be pretty darn unhappy about things. While Red Bull is refraining from getting into commenting about their thoughts on the verdict, Ferrari have already voiced their discontent with the verdict through their anonymous ‘Horse Whisperer’ column saying that it is “somewhat perplexing to say the least to see that the guilty party can get away virtually scot free for having derived an unfair sporting advantage.”The column went on to say, “Don’t tell me that testing for three days on your own at the Catalunya circuit is the same as doing so with nine other teams at Silverstone with a host of young hopefuls at the wheel, in an area where the weather can still be changeable even in the height of summer.”
“And what if this whole incident had taken place after the young driver test, what would have been the penalty then? Would they have been forbidden from holding an end of year dinner?”
Clearly the Maranello team are not happy with the outcome.
On the flip side, this is not the first time that a team has gotten off with a slap on the wrist following breaches in regulations. And it most certainly won’t be the last. Adrian Newey is the master at that game. Mercedes saw a loophole, and took it. Well played, I suppose. It seems that this is the way of Formula One. This time Testgate, next time Turbogate?
What are your thoughts on the Testgate verdict? Do you think it’s fair? Let us know in the comments section below.
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FIA sets June date for Mercedes-Pirelli test International Tribunal hearing
The FIA’s International Tribunal will meet in Paris on June 20 to hear the case against Mercedes and Pirelli concerning their recent tyre test in Barcelona. This follows the protests lodged by Red Bull Racing and Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix.
They are to consider whether the 3-day f1 tyre test conducted last month using a 2013 car, broke Formula One regulations, which prohibit the use of current cars for in-season testing.
The FIA has said a decision will be announced as soon as possible after the hearing. Should Mercedes and/or Pirelli be found guilty of charges, the International Tribunal has the power to impose a wide range of sanctions.
Here is the FIA statement in full:
The following hearing of the International Tribunal will take place in Paris:
Hearing
Disciplinary procedure against Mercedes and Pirelli (2013 FIA Formula One World Championship)
On 5 June 2013, further to protests lodged during the 2013 Monaco GP by Red Bull Racing and Ferrari Scuderia Team against cars n°9 and 10 (Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team) for having conducted with Pirelli a three day tyre testing using a 2013 car on 15, 16 and 17 May in Barcelona, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA Prosecuting Body, sent to the President of the International Tribunal a notification of charges against Pirelli and a notification of charges against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.On 5 June 2013, Pirelli and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team have been convened by the President of the International Tribunal to appear before a judging panel of the International Tribunal.
When
09.30 hrs
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Where
FIA Salle du Comité,
8, place de la Concorde,
75008 Paris
Decision
The decision of the International Tribunal will be published as soon as possible after the hearing.
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Ross Brawn puts his head on the chopping block in Pirelligate
A very interesting team principal press conference followed the second practice session ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix today.
Most notably, Ross Brawn revealed that it was him who made the decision to go ahead with the controversial Pirelli tyre testing in Barcelona following the Spanish Grand Prix.
Playing it very cool, calm and collected, Ross stated, “”It was my decision to do the testing, that is a fact, and let’s see what happens at tribunal and we go from there.”
The Brackley-based Mercedes F1 team is to face an FIA disciplinary hearing at the International Tribunal later this month to answer charges that it may have broken Formula 1 regulations by using its W04 2013 car during the Pirelli test.
Brawn was also quick to state that there was nothing “secret” about the test but that it was merely a “private” test.
Ross seemed very confident, almost as though he has an Ace or two up his sleeve. He was not willing to divulge why the team is so certain that it is in the clear after testing their 2013 car with Pirelli, but he said that he is eager for the facts of the case to come out so that Mercedes can clear its name.“I wouldn’t say it is very pleasant at the moment but again I am comfortable and confident that once when we get to the tribunal the facts will become apparent and people can make a better judgement.”
“I think we would not have done the Pirelli test unless we believed we could do the Pirelli test. When we get to the tribunal you will have your answers,” he said.
Pirelli boss Paul Hembery, meanwhile, was absent from the press conference following advice from Pirelli lawyers not to attend.
