[Tech Issue] Pirelli-The Tyre Story..

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by RF_Racer

According to them every team was offered the chance and none apart from Merc showed interest. Also The FIA say that chassis must be run by pirelli and not the usual team.

I'm not surprised the other teams didn't take up the offer, if it's against the rules.

[wolfhound]

If one reads what the FIA said and Pirelli said they are slightly different.

Pirelli did not make an offer to the teams just before this test, the offer was made some months ago. The FIA are saying that the teast using a 2013 car was to be made to all teams. That is my understanding of what happened, this looks like its not going to get sorted quickly.

[bjohnsonsmith]

FIA to investigate Mercedes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22676348

[Flat12-Aircool]

Frankly this is all ridiculous, it's obviously Pirelli asking Mercedes not the other way round and Mercedes jumped at the chance to put a few more miles on their car.

If Mercedes get a ban then so should Pirelli for asking them. Good luck to Red Bull and the others racing around Montreal on bare wheel hubs.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

FIA to investigate Mercedes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22676348

This is bad.

[Knowlesy]

It is a mess on all sides really. And surely the FIA were aware at some point before the test what was happening?

Did Pirelli just walk up to Mercedes and say "'ere lads, fancy a bit of overtime this week?"

I just don't get it. Expect a $100 million fine for Mercedes anyways.

[Dutton]

100 million fine for Mercedes, but with the moral blame being put on Ferrari .

[Nicholosophy]

Here's a mad idea. Have some dedicated in-season tyre development test days with all teams invited.

Nah, wouldn't work...

[Armco Bender]

Pirelli used Mercedes to do a three-day test.

Its all lies.....Pirelli would need 5 years to produce enough tyres to last 3 days...

[csirl]

Pirelli says it has a contract with the FIA to offer teams the chance to do 1,000km of testing.

Testing rules say that any tests outside the normal specified testing regime must be with a car more than 2 years old.

There is in fact no conflict between these rules.

There is some talk on media reports saying that Pirelli ran the cars in the test, not Mercedes. Do the rules say that Pirelli must run the test? If so, why wasnt Pirelli's official test driver driving the car -i.e. Jaime Alguersuari?

In most sports, things like this would be clear cut, but who knows what goes on behind the scenes in F1.

[JamesH]

I find it odd you can run a 'secret' tyre test. F1 cars make so much noise you know when one is on circuit, even when you are not even close! Circuit would also be completely closed. Odd.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by JamesH

I find it odd you can run a 'secret' tyre test. F1 cars make so much noise you know when one is on circuit, even when you are not even close! Circuit would also be completely closed. Odd.

Well, it was no so secret !

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JamesH

I find it odd you can run a 'secret' tyre test. F1 cars make so much noise you know when one is on circuit, even when you are not even close! Circuit would also be completely closed. Odd.

How exactly did Ferrari and RBR find out? Did some over curious person find the track closed with a silver F1 car whizzing round and round and then Facebooked them with the info?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Mercedes accused of being underhanded.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107715

[jsTrecu]

Mercedes warned in 2012 there was no scope for F1 in-season testing

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107726



This is getting better and better...

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by JamesH

I find it odd you can run a 'secret' tyre test. F1 cars make so much noise you know when one is on circuit, even when you are not even close! Circuit would also be completely closed. Odd.

In this day it's also odd to think that no one saw an f1 car doing the rounds in Barcalona of all places and didn't upload a picture of it immediately to twitter.

Also curious as to who paid for the test. Some reports say that Pirelli ran the car, whatever that means, but I dont see them paying for it.

[Bononi]

Ouch... Mercedes are in dire straits... something must be done.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Statement by FIA: 2013-monaco-grand-prix-note-media

At the beginning of May, the FIA was asked by Pirelli if it was possible for it to carry out some tyre development testing with a team, using a current car. Within the contract Pirelli has with the FIA as single supplier, there is provision for them to carry out up to 1000km of testing with any team – provided every team is offered the opportunity to do so.

Pirelli and Mercedes-AMG were advised by the FIA that such a development test could be possible if carried out by Pirelli, as opposed to the team that would provide the car and driver, and that such tests would be conditional upon every team being given the same opportunity to test in order to ensure full sporting equity.

Following this communication, the FIA received no further information about a possible test from Pirelli or from Mercedes-AMG. Furthermore, the FIA received no confirmation that all teams had been given an opportunity to take part in this test.

In addition, with regard to the application of the sport’s rules, including principles of sporting equity, it should be remembered that the International Sporting Code provides that on the basis of a report of the stewards of the meeting, or on its own initiative, the prosecuting body of the FIA may bring a matter before the International Tribunal.

The Tribunal may decide to inflict penalties that would supercede any penalty the stewards of the meeting may have issued. Such procedure would be followed in pursuance of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.

[Flat12-Aircool]

As usual in F1 there's more to this than meets the eye...apparently Ferrari did a "secret" 500km test before Barcelona with a 2011 car (and guess who won that race). Pirelli wanted to get on top of tyre failure problems and do some prep work for next year where cars will have higher torque, but are getting fed up with current politics in F1 and seemingly decided to grasp the nettle and arrange another test.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/0...-f1-tyre-test/

[jsTrecu]

At first it was said that Ferrari used a 2010 car, it turns out it really was from 2011
Not sure how much of a difference that makes, but it surely isn't that flagrant compared to Mercedes...

So what now ? RBR and Lotus are the only contenders who have not tested yet. I'm sure the FIA won't allow them to do it, that would only create more bad PR (specially if it's RBR, media and all the haters would go mad).
Mercedes suspended from WCC maybe ?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by jsTrecu

RBR and Lotus are the only contenders who have not tested yet.

There are 11 teams in F1, all of which wouldn't mind doing 1,000 kms of tyre testing.

Originally Posted by jsTrecu

Mercedes suspended from WCC maybe ?

Not being allowed to take part in any additional tyre tests that may/must be required for this season and next season, seems fairer.

What is likely to happen though is that they'll get a good telling off and be required to sign a big cheque to help buy the FIA some more real estate. It's likely that the FIA are already 'picking out curtains' as I type.

[jsTrecu]

Originally Posted by Marbot

There are 11 teams in F1, all of which wouldn't mind doing 1,000 kms of tyre testing.

I know, but I'm talking about contenders because this test could change a lot of things at the front.
Pretenders usually stay pretenders, can't see Williams or STR in the title hunt even with some more mileage on this tyres.

Originally Posted by Marbot

Not being allowed to take part in any additional tyre tests that may/must be required for this season and next season, seems fairer.

What is likely to happen though is that they'll get a good telling off and be required to sign a big cheque to help buy the FIA some more real estate. It's likely that the FIA are already 'picking out curtains' as I type.

That's pretty much getting away with it since I don't think we'll see any other 2013 car testing again. The advantage remains.

[Flat12-Aircool]

Well apparently not all the teams agree with Red Bulls complaints so they're not even united for or against what's happened. Teams are suffering de-laminations leading to safety fears and gear box changes etc and Pirelli need to do something about it. Testing a 2 year old car that still has a double diffuser is not going to help improve the rear tyres for today's cars. How many more de-laminations would there have been in Barcelona if all the teams were pushing 100% instead of backing off to save the tyres, who knows?

Plus I can't see Bernie being too bothered about it either, because my impression is that for this year at least he's happy to see anybody else bar Vettel win the title. The last thing he wants to see commercially is a return to the Ferrari dominance of 10 years ago.

[Canada ALMS fan]

If there were say 3 to 4 in-season tests this likely would not have been a problem. To not have a chance to sort one's car in-season seems unrealistic for the pinnacle of motorsport. Plus young drivers could get seat time, which is another huge problem. Pirelli is clearly getting fed up being the scape goat and frankly, if I were them I would already have one foot out the door for '14 as there appears to be no changes coming that will end the bad publicity for them.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

Plus I can't see Bernie being too bothered about it either, because my impression is that for this year at least he's happy to see anybody else bar Vettel win the title. The last thing he wants to see commercially is a return to the Ferrari dominance of 10 years ago.

a bit off topic but i have never understood this point. those 10 years of Ferrari dominance were probably the most commercially successful years in F1 history for top teams and for BE. why would he not want to see a repeat...although having Ferrari dominate again would be more profitable than RB doing it but the kids today might actually have more affinity with the Red bull brand then they do with the prancing horse.

back on topic, if i understand Marbot's point correctly then i would agree that best solution to this problem is let the other teams run 100kms in a 2013 car with the same tires they provided for the Merc test.

nothing will ever make it fair but this is probably as close to fair as it can be made. if the tests happen soon i could live with this solution...and of course some new drapes for the FIA HQ as well.