Mercedes Tribunal Today

[DungBeetle]

I bought season points at 285 at £10 a point against a buddy so this could be a big kick in the nuts if they get kicked out of championship!

Would take a 50 point penalty if offered now.

Nervously watching developments.............

[outragous76]

I bought season points at 285 at £10 a point against a buddy so this could be a big kick in the nuts if they get kicked out of championship!

Would take a 50 point penalty if offered now.

Nervously watching developments.............

F1 cant afford for that to happen so I think you are safe

[DungBeetle]

Problem is they can kick them out of constructors but leave drivers points untouched.  Think that is what they did to McLaren over Spygate?

[c4ught]

Going to be interesting to see what punishment they get.

I don't think any punishment can really reverse the information they potentially gained?

[DungBeetle]

Think they are stuffed here. The QCs are making the point that any verbal permission from Charlie Whiting is irrelevant.  They have broken the rule and facts are facts.  Not looking good.  Pirelli are trying to dig them out, but it's all emotive language about how they didn't benefit as it was 2014 tyres.  Facts will win the day I imagine.

[c4ught]

Why do Pirelli using the top teams to test next years tyres? Could the information not be used to design next years car?

[DungBeetle]

Yes I would have thought so.

[neeko]

This is F1 so the result will depend upon politics, power and money.

The FIA is poor as they sold the rights to Bernie for 100 years for peanuts so fines are the easiest way to take money out of the sport. Eg McClaren's $100m fine over spygate.

As it is not Ferrari in the doc then the punishment will be quite high, not enough for merc to leave to sport but enough to make them threaten to.  So I am guessing a $10m fine and 25 point deduction.

Given the Pirelli tyres were delaminating on merc cars then it is a safety issue so the test should have been allowed, it's not like merc ran 3 test wings and 23 downforce settings.

Would be funny if Pirelli insta quit and there are no tyres ready for next year. If Michelin, Goodyear or Hannook suddenly appear as a 2014 tyre supplier next week the this whole process has been a fix.

[MereNovice]

Mercedes "reprimanded".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22999260

[neeko]

 It made the right decision - I'm surprised.

[outragous76]

F1 is turning into WWE

This is terrible exposure for them but they seem to love it