Mercedes test row hangs over Monaco grand prix
The continuing tyre debate in Formula One acquired a new facet over the long weekend, as details emerged of a 1,000km test Pirelli conducted in Barcelona after the Spanish grand prix. Red Bull and Ferrari have led official protests against the test, which is thought to have been conducted using the 2013 Mercedes car. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over whether Pirelli will be allowed to change its 2013 specification rubber mid-season. Pirelli announced that it would make the changes to the rear tyres before the Canadian grand prix, but this intention is being held up by three teams – chiefly Force India, with Ferrari and Lotus joining the current impasse – who have refused to sign off on the replacement range. (You can follow the ongoing saga of Pirelli's 2013 F1 tyres in the links below this story.)
In-season testing on F1 teams’ current cars is almost entirely forbidden by the sport’s rules, with exceptions made for testing on cars that are at least two years old. While Pirelli is allowed to offer teams the chance to complete up to 1,000km of tyre testing for tyre development and safety, it seems there is some doubt as to whether the manner in which the Spanish test was conducted was within F1 regulations. Pirelli’s chief critic in 2013, Red Bull principal, Christian Horner has told the BBC that the test is “a clear breach of the sporting regulations.”
It isn’t difficult to see his point. Should the new tyres be introduced – as still seems likely, since Pirelli can potentially force the change through on safety grounds – Mercedes will effectively have had advanced warning of the way the new tyres work with its cars and drivers. However, another way to see this is that Mercedes appears to have experienced the greatest difficulties with Pirelli’s original 2013 tyres, and it therefore makes sense to try the potential replacements out with Lewis Hamilton and Monaco winner, Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the current vehicle. It would be ironic if the pressure put on Pirelli to change their 2013 tyres by Red Bull eventually handed the advantage to another team.
Pirelli’s 2013 Formula One tyre conundrum on Tyrepress.com:
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