Brawn’s “conscience is clear” before tribunal

Before this weekend’s Canadian grand prix, the major F1 tyre story had been the FIA’s decision to make Mercedes and Pirelli appear before an international tribunal based on the suspicion that Mercedes’ use of its 2013 car in a 1,000km tyre test "may constitute a breach" of the series’ rules. Mercedes principal, Ross Brawn has told BBC Sport’s chief F1 analyst Eddie Jordan that "it was a Pirelli test. What we were seeking was privacy not secrecy.”

Brawn made several other arguments to counter the view that Mercedes had done something wrong in Spain. Countering the allegation that the test had been conducted under a veil of secrecy, with unmarked helmets keeping  the identity of the drivers under wraps and Pirelli returning to the circuit with Mercedes following the previous weekend’s grand prix after others had left, Brawn said that his “conscience is clear”.

The reason for the later return to the Circuit de Catalunya was, Brawn told Jordan, because it was the first available slot, since “[i]t couldn’t be held any closer to the weekend because people were packing up.” The helmets were arranged by Pirelli, Brawn continues, noting that the identity of the drivers is “irrelevant” in any case. Indeed, it is the use of the 2013 car that has riled other F1 teams, in addition to the fact that they were not informed that the test was happening. On the latter factor, Brawn said that Mercedes “don’t believe we had an obligation to inform other teams” since the test was Pirelli’s, and therefore the tyre manufacturer’s decision. But ultimately Brawn countered that, “[y]ou don’t go testing in Barcelona for three days and expect people not to know about it.”

On the tyres tested themselves, Brawn admitted to Jordan that the drivers “had some awareness of the tyres” in order to test effectively, but that Pirelli is “building a jigsaw” for next season’s tyres. “We don’t know what is what. But it would be irresponsible to put a tyre on the car without giving the driver a bit of guidance,” Brawn said.

Both Mercedes and Pirelli have consistently told the press that they now want to put the facts before the forthcoming tribunal before anyone makes pronouncements about the legality of the test. Pirelli Motorsport director, Paul Hembery withdrew from the Friday morning press conference under advice from lawyers, according to news sources.

Related news:

Pirelli rules out new tyre for Silverstone as Vettel canters to Canada win