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Mercedes and Pirelli faced the music at the governing body’s brand new international tribunal in Paris on Thursday, and the outcome was expected immediately afterwards.<\/p>\nThe world of F1 remains on tenterhooks after the FIA delayed its decision in the ‘test-gate’ scandal.<\/p>\n
Mercedes and Pirelli faced the music at the governing body’s brand new international tribunal in Paris on Thursday, and the outcome was expected immediately afterwards.<\/p>\n
But “With proceedings having gone on late into Thursday afternoon, that verdict will now come on Friday”, read a report on F1’s official website.<\/p>\n
The FIA’s lawyer argued strongly that Mercedes’ Pirelli tyre test in Barcelona last month broke the rules, and most insiders are expecting the Brackley based team to take a penalty.<\/p>\n
It seems Mercedes is also expecting the same, despite its lawyer arguing that the German carmaker “should actually be applauded” for helping Pirelli to improve the safety of F1’s tyres.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, Mercedes said a “reprimand” might be an appropriate sanction, but also offered to sit out next month’s young drivers’ test at Silverstone to “level the playing field”.<\/p>\n
“If we were wrong, we are sorry,” said Mercedes’ lawyer.<\/p>\n
“If there is to be any sanction, it has to be a minor one, as the procedures have not been clear to anybody.”<\/p>\n
Red Bull’s Christian Horner, however – who attended Thursday’s hearing – urged the FIA to reject Mercedes’ offer of skipping Silverstone in July.<\/p>\n
“They’ve already done their test with senior drivers so being banned from a young driver test probably isn’t much of a sanction,” he told Sky.<\/p>\n
Mercedes, however, was not only apologetic as it charged hard against the Jean Todt-led FIA’s apparent double standards in failing to rebuke Ferrari.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it emerged on Thursday that test driver Pedro de la Rosa was not the only driver involved in Ferrari’s post-Bahrain test with a 2011 car at Barcelona, but that Felipe Massa was also in action.<\/p>\n
“They (Ferrari) are not criticised but apparently we are,” said Mercedes’ lawyer.<\/p>\n
“If we did these nefarious things to the fundamental principles (of sporting fairness) it cannot be the case that Ferrari didn’t also do them,” he insisted.<\/p>\n
F1’s tyre supplier Pirelli, meanwhile, indicated it was furious at the FIA for the charges.<\/p>\n
“Pirelli cannot accept and will not accept that its image and the quality of its products and its credibility be tarnished because of a case which is not admissible and which is unfounded,” the Italian marque’s lawyer said.<\/p>\n
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