F1 Thread

[RichC]

You can imagine the other teams are not happy about this at all.

Monaco Grand Prix: Mercedes face protest over tyre testing

Mercedes are at the centre of a technical row in Formula 1 after doing a three-day tyre test between the Spanish and Monaco grands prix.

In-season testing in F1 is forbidden and Red Bull and Ferrari are considering a protest against Mercedes.

Sources say governing body the FIA knew about the test, with contracts outside the rules allowing it to happen.

But rival teams are angry because extra running on tyres could potentially give Mercedes a technical advantage.

Mercedes, whose two drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will start from the front row for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix, have been struggling with heavy tyre usage this season.

The tyres used at the test were development designs for next season, as well as a new tyre Pirelli wants to introduce at next month's Canadian Grand Prix.

Pirelli is aiming to introduce rear tyres that are less vulnerable to delamination following a series of failures.

But the plan is in dispute, with Ferrari, Lotus and Force India yet to approve it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22672228

[Daniel 7]

I'm not sure that Mercedes will be fine - if Ferrari and Red Bull judge the stops right (well fro Seb and Alonso anyway) then Mercedes will be under pressure. Their tyres go off so fast.

[RichC]

It's going to have be very tactical from the Mercs to win this but they can, get the 2nd car to hold up the pack and let the leading car scamper off. This track isn't quite so hard on tires as other tracks, thing is its Monaco and the first corner will come into play no doubt and I wouldn't be shocked to see the safety car out

[Daniel 7]

Yeah, crazy that there haven't been any safety cars this season so far!

I'm not sure - the Mercedes problem is all about the speed that the heat is generated in the tyres. They're one - two again which suggests that the energy is getting to the tyres really quickly regardless. Their problems are fundamental in design.

[Daniel 7]

There's the Hoff!

[Aj34]

Is there drs here ? If so what's the point

[RichC]

There is but its going to be quite tough to get any advantage from it

[RichC]

Looks like Hamilton is backing them up

[Daniel 7]

Button really does moan a lot, doesn't he?

Mercs are backing off already, ffs

[Daniel 7]

**** this. F1 is **** this year. Manage the tyres Mark, keep 2 seconds behind - **** this.

[RichC]

The tyre deg is ruining the sport IMO.

[Aj34]

Agree

[Aj34]

I wanna see races won on the track with great manoeuvres not in the pit lane

[RichC]

And not because of the bloody tyre wear

[Aj34]

Warming up now