FIA accuses Mercedes of gaining from illegal test

Formula One's governing body accused the Mercedes team on Thursday of breaking the rules by testing in Spain with tyre supplier Pirelli last month and benefiting from their involvement.

Mercedes, the team of 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton and Germany's Nico Rosberg, could face heavy sanctions if found guilty by a tribunal meeting at the International Automobile Federation (FIA) headquarters.

Mark Howard, the FIA's legal representative, opened the hearing by telling the four judges and tribunal president Edwin Glasgow that there was little factual dispute in the case presented to them.

Mercedes have said they tested at the Barcelona circuit after the Spanish Grand Prix with their 2013 car, but have stated that the test was organised by Pirelli - who are not competitors - and they gained no advantage from it as a team. They have also said they acted in good faith and believed they had secured the approval of the FIA. Howard said their action was a clear breach of the ban on teams testing during the season with a current car.

"There is not much room for doubt that the Mercedes 2013 car was a car covered by the regulations and that the car was subjected to track running time in Barcelona," he said. "Track testing is deliberately defined as track running time," Howard explained.

"It is a term used deliberately because it is unambiguous ... any running on the track is deemed to be testing." Howard said that Mercedes would have gained valuable information from the test, even if only to highlight some hitherto unknown defect with the car. "It is difficult to say that Mercedes gained no benefit from the test," he declared.

Mercedes, who had principal Ross Brawn attending the hearing along with chief race engineer Andrew Shovlin, sporting director Ron Meadows and lawyers, was expected to be heard later before Pirelli also present their views. The tribunal heard that Meadows spoke to FIA technical head Charlie Whiting on May 2 to ask whether testing with a 2013 car was permissible. Brawn then made a similar enquiry in a telephone call later that day, said Howard.

"What is very odd about all of this is that on the basis of the telephone calls, both Mercedes and Pirelli went ahead without getting back to Mr Whiting and making clear precisely ultimately what they were intending to do," he added.

Red Bull principal Christian Horner, whose team made a protest against Mercedes at last month's Monaco Grand Prix, was attending the hearing along with chief engineer Paul Monaghan and a lawyer.

Ferrari, who also protested before the Monaco race won by Mercedes's Nico Rosberg, sent two lawyers while Mercedes-powered McLaren and Williams also sent legal representatives. The FIA has said a verdict will be issued 'as soon as possible' after the hearing.