Toto Wolff claims private test within regulations – Formula 1 news
Mercedes Executive Director Toto Wolff has claimed that the team’s private test conducted in Barcelona with Pirelli was within the FIA’s regulations.
The 41-year-old stated, “Everything we did was exactly according to the regulations. We have prepared our documents, we cannot do any more until Thursday's judgement comes and then we'll see if we can live with it.”
He added, “We have no feeling, neither a positive nor a negative one. Our belief is that we have done nothing wrong. We are not going to Paris with a specific target to fight. Nor do we say that there has to be an acquittal. There is nothing that we expect.”
Since the arrival of Pirelli tyres in Formula 1, Mercedes have struggled to deliver solid results with consistency. As a result, the team decided to go for a private test with the tyre manufacturers, covering 1000kms.
Although such a session is allowed, no team can conduct it with their current machine. This is where rivals teams have criticised Mercedes, as the German giants have gained some useful data with their 2013 car. Had this been their previous year’s challenger,
no one would have pointed fingers on them.
Right after the test, the Brackley based squad claimed that they gained nothing out of it. However, their driver Nico Rosberg managed to win the very next race in Monaco after dominating the entire weekend.
Since the Monte Carlo street circuit was not harsh on tyres, no one really knew whether Mercedes gained anything out of the private test. As a result, everyone waited for the next round of the season in Canada.
There were no surprises on the Qualifying day, where the Silver Arrows were once again very strong. However, the real picture became clear on race day, which has usually been the week point for the team.
Both Mercedes drivers Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton did not suffer any major tyre wear problems in Montreal, which helped the latter of the two finish third on the podium whereas the former ended up fifth. This was a clear indication that they had benefitted
from the private session with Pirelli, thus they might have to suffer some serious consequences for it.
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