Testgate: Pirelli reprimanded, Mercedes suspended for Rookies Days

After yesterday’s hearing, the FIA International Tribunal delivered its verdict today in the “Testgate” case involving Mercedes and Pirelli. To recap, Mercedes conducted three days of testing with its single-seater at the Circuit de Catalunya following the Spanish Grand Prix with its two official drivers.

After hearing the pleas of the different parties yesterday, the FIA’s International Tribunal decided to reprimand Pirelli, who thus comes out of this matter unscathed.

We can almost say the same thing about the Mercedes AMG F1 team, which also receives a reprimand and will be suspended for the three days of young driver testing that will take place at Silverstone in mid-July.

The International Automobile Federation reacted to this decision through a statement, specifying that lessons needed to be learned from this case:

« The FIA takes note of the decision rendered today by the FIA International Tribunal against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Pirelli Tyres.

This decision follows (i) the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the FIA, based notably on the report from the Monaco Grand Prix stewards submitted to the FIA following the two complaints filed respectively by Scuderia Ferrari Team and Red Bull Racing, and (ii) the hearing that took place yesterday before the International Tribunal with the participation of all interested parties.

The FIA wants all lessons to be learned from this case and the decision made. To this end, the FIA will work, in association with all F1 Teams, to strengthen its oversight of the organization of tests.

It is recalled that the notification of the decision of the FIA International Tribunal opens the possibility for each of the parties concerned to appeal the decision before the FIA International Court of Appeal within a period of 7 days.

The Mercedes AMG F1 team reacted following this announcement and « accepts the decision of the FIA International Tribunal ». It also specified in this statement that this decision was proof that it had not acted contrary to the regulations: « The decision of the International Tribunal confirms that the team acted in good faith regarding the Pirelli tests, never intended to gain an unsporting advantage, and had no reason to believe that the approval for the Pirelli tests had not been given. Mercedes accepts the proportionate penalties, with a reprimand and a suspension for the young driver tests, decided by the Tribunal. »

The German team now wants to put this matter behind them and they have no intention of exercising their right to appeal the decision. The Mercedes team looks forward to the next two races of the season, which will be held in the United Kingdom and Germany, two home races for the Mercedes AMG F1 team.