Mercedes have avoided harsh sanctions for breaking rules governing tests by using a current car to conduct a three-day, 1,000km tyre test at the request of Pirelli at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on 15-17 May.
Following a tribunal, Mercedes have been banned from this year’s young driver test that will take place at Silverstone on July 17-19 and reprimanded for its part in the affair dubbed “tyregate” while Pirelli has also been reprimanded.
In a statement Mercedes said it “acknowledges and accepts the decision of the FIA International Tribunal.”
It added: “We now wish to bring this matter to a close and focus on the forthcoming British and German Grands Prix.”
A statement on behalf of the tribunal read: “The Tribunal, after having heard the parties and examined their submissions, decided that: Mercedes be reprimanded; Mercedes be suspended from participating in the forthcoming “three day young driver training test”; Pirelli be reprimanded… and rejected all other and further conclusions.”
The FIA responded to the verdict in a separate statement.
“The FIA duly notes the decision handed down today by the FIA International Tribunal against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Pirelli Tyres, ” it said. “This decision follows (i) the disciplinary proceedings instigated by the FIA, on the basis in particular of the report by the Stewards of the Monaco Grand Prix, forwarded to the FIA following the two protests made by Scuderia Ferrari Team and Red Bull Racing respectively, and (ii) the hearing that took place yesterday before the International Tribunal with the participation of all the parties concerned.
“The FIA wishes that lessons are learnt from this case and from the decision handed down. To this end, the FIA will make sure, in association with all F1 teams, that its control of the testings is strengthened.
“It is recalled that the notification of the FIA International Tribunal’s decision opens to each of the parties concerned the possibility of bringing an appeal against this decision before the FIA International Court of Appeal within 7 days.”
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