Ferrari slam FIA’s lenient verdict on test-gate scandal – Formula 1 news
Ferrari have hit out at the FIA’s verdict on the test-gate scandal, where Mercedes gained an unfair advantage over rivals because of extra running on Pirelli tyres with their current challenger.
According to the rules, no team is permitted to test with the tyre manufacturers with their latest machinery. However, there was a breach by Mercedes, which was protested by all of the rival teams.
As a result, the sport’s governing body decided to take action against the guilty party, but allowed them a chance to have their say on the matter.
In their defence, Mercedes claimed that the private test was controlled by Pirelli, thus they gained nothing out of it. Moreover, they offered to miss the young drivers’ test in order to balance things out.
After hearing the case, the FIA declared that the German squad did get some extra benefit from the entire situation, but decided not to take any serious action against them. Instead the team was reprimanded and was advised to skip the young drivers’ test,
as suggested during the hearing.
Ferrari were simply unhappy with this decision and wrote on their website, “We learned that even if one is guilty and in this case that is an indisputable and verified fact, there is always a way of muddling through as best one can. One only has to suggest
to the judge what the penalty should be and even better, why not make it something light like a rap across the knuckles.”
The column written on the website further read, “Don't tell me that testing for three days on your own at the Catalunya circuit is the same as doing so with nine other teams at Silverstone with a host of young hopefuls at the wheel.”
On the other hand, Red Bull were also disappointed with the FIA’s verdict over the test-gate scandal. The reigning champions were expecting some serious action to be taken, but that did not happen at the end of the day.
Although Red Bull have expressed displeasure over the entire matter, they have also been criticised on numerous occasions for using illegal components on their car, for which they have never been penalised or reprimanded.
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