is it ridiculous? Mercedes take illegal test, prior to test they qualify well and drop back to midfield during the races, after test they win the next race and end up on the podium at the next, losing just one place, now how many MILLIONS of pounds is that going to be worth? They should kick Mercedes out of the WCC at the very least, this is worse than spy-gate IMO
I hear what you're saying Miggs...but in reality it hasn't changed the pecking order. I'm just hoping Brawn doesn't have to fall on his sword.
But was it done on purpose though? Brawn was already under the block before the season started and was rumoured to be replaced by lowe at some point. So Ross does the dirty dead to help Mercedes, he doesn't involve anybody else like Lauda and Toto, so if anything the chairman can say the "TP went rogue" behind his back. Ross gets suspended, eventhough secretly wanting to retire anyway. Mercedes get away with just a fine, Lewis and Nico keep points and Mercedes get Lowe as their new TP. Mercedes get a win win situation.
That might not be a million miles off the mark. Ross seems cool about the whole affair. Hope not though... F1 needs people like Ross Brawn.
That's the bit that seems so odd about it all. I'd be bricking it. It's like he already knows the outcome and is cool with it.
personally I hope he does, he's got away with far too much in the past, illegal electronics & altered fuel rigs to name 2.
Erm, Lewis had two podiums and a fifth place from the first three races. As far as I can see this test has not pushed them up the pecking order. Monaco was a one-off. What I wonder about is why Horner is making such a fuss about the tyres anyway, when his team and driver are way ahead.
It's Horner... He screams like a banshee when others bend the rules and moans like a SoB when he's called out for bending them. Par for the course... That doesn't excuse Merc though.
Webbers damage cost him a podium so in the end Hamilton probably would have come 4th, with rosberg a minute down the road in 5th. It seems very similar to the start of the season still.
Ultimately we'll never know where Mercedes would be without that test. They seem to be in better shape than they were but how much of that is track specific? I think the real tyre killers are out the way any way, no more excessively hot races for a while, the surfaces aren't as abrasive and the layouts are less demanding. Silverstone is low downforce, Nurburgring's more point-and-squirt, Spa is low downforce, Hungary low speed, Monza low downforce... Suzuka's probably the only track left which puts a lot of stress on the tyres. I don't think any of the end of season flyaways are particularly hot either are they? Two of them are at night which helps. To get back to Mercedes though, it isn't really relevant whether they've gained or not (as far as the tribunal's concerned), it's that they tried to gain an advantage that's important.
There will be uproar if Mercedes receive a hefty fine then go on to win the British Grand Prix. Unlikely that they will win it but it would be interesting none the less. It's clear they gained an advantage over it, the question remains how much of an advantage. 3 days of "testing" on a track that's hard on it's tyres will help any team whether they are struggling or not. I can see a suspension for Brawn and Mercedes have constructor points deducted.
I really think it will be Brawn that falls on his sword and then no further punishment elsewhere. He's already stated it was his decision to run the 2013 car.
Handy coincidence? Brawn Falls on Sword on 20th.. Paddy Lowe scheduled to join this month... Brawn being paid to take a dive... Mercedes making it "worth his while?" Agree with BIL, could see Brawn suspended and Merc being kicked out of the Constructors title but drivers keeping their points? Any thing more than that, then the FIA risk pissing off one of, if not, the biggest manufacturers in the sport..
I don't think they'll go after Merc like that... If Merc's reputation is hurt by F1, they could potentially walk. Not worth the risk for F1.
I guess spy-gate is the most recent comparison for the FIA taking a constructor to task, and that was the punishment then. Both argued that they weren't entirely aware of the problem, so a similar punishment would seem fair.
I hate the whole "let the drivers keep their points but not the constructor" thing. It's a joke. If a car fails scrutineering the car is disqualified and they get no points for either championship. It should be the same for stuff like this.
