With regards to the tyre test, am I right in thinking that Mercedes did not seek approval from the FIA, and only went on the word of Pirelli?

If that is the case, would you not think Mercedes would have made 100% certain by asking the FIA rather than just the word of Pirelli?

Brawn apparently asked Charlie Whiting about it and received permission.

I'm sure there probably was some lack of clarity but if you ask a governing body for permission to do something it's really their own fault if they grant that permission without fully considering the possible ramifications.

Okay thanks for that.

Looks like Brawn is been made to be the scapegoat for Mercedes though, if the tribunal goes wrong for them.

Here's one for those who like to split hairs, especially those who don't split them exactly down the middle:


2013 F1 Sporting Regulations - Published on 26.04.2013

14) PASSES
14.1 No pass may be issued or used other than with the agreement of the FIA. A pass may be used only by the person and for the purpose for which it was issued.

Roscoe is most definitely not a person.

Discuss.

ZOMG!!! Hamilton in ANOTHER rule-breaking scandal?!

In 5 year's time FF will be on here complaining about how unfair it is that Hamilton got away with bringing an unauthorised guest to the Monaco GP back in 2013, etc.

*EDIT*
Meanwhile, Red Bull and Ferrari are probably already drafting their protest at Merc's use of an unauthorised test-driver.

I dunno if he is or not.

To me, it seems like the FIA agreed to it all, in principle at least, without really considering how the other teams might react and then they're trying to shift the blame onto Pirelli and/or Merc'.

The shame of it, again IMO, is that Merc' and Pirelli also seem to be trying to back-stab each other now.
You've got Pirelli saying "We never asked Merc' to bring a current car to the test. We simply asked them to bring a representative car" and Merc' are saying "It wasn't up to us to ensure every team in the paddock was happy. We just did as we were asked by Pirelli".

Seems like it would have been better if they'd supported each other and forced the FIA to accept responsibility to failing to consider the issue properly before granting permission for a test.

Shame to see Paul di Resta out in the first session.

How much longer will Grosjean be in F1? There seems to be no middle ground with him between being fast but erratic and being safe but too slow.

ZOMG! Grosjean to start 29th tomorrow!?

*EDIT*
Sutil follows Hamilton into secluded escape-road.
Hamilton emerges with a black eye and broken ribs.

*EDIT2*
Button out but Perez in after Massa throws it in the hedge (yet again)?

Should have just enough time for a few cars to make it. This is going to be chaos...

Must admit, if I was the pit-lane marshal there I'd have sent half of them to the back of the "proper" queue like naughty schoolboys trying to push into the tuck-shop queue.

Erk, my mistake. Perez out as well.

Both Torro Rosso's into Q3 though.

Ha.

Mclaren cocked up badly there sending Button out too late.

Great from Bottas. Good for Torro Roso as well but disappointed Hulkenberg just missed out.

Who complains more, Di Resta or Button? They should have a moan-off...

To be fair, you'd have to give that one to di Resta purely due to the whiney, adenoidal, voice.

I guess the rain is really challenging the cars to heat their tyres properly at what should, really, be a fairly straightforward circuit.

Just realised, this must all be a bit embarrassing for Lurch, at Williams, with his team-mate currently 3rd.

Great effort from Bottas.

Nice work from Bottas. Could be interesting down at the first corner tomorrow, before Vettel runs off into the distance.

Di Resta blaming everyone else as usual?

What's the chances of Grosjean making his way all the way through the field cleanly tomorrow?

About the same as Bottas finishing where he starts

Mostly his own team. He really needs to be careful about alienating his team, if he can't work with them, that won't impress big teams and FI might not put up with him for too long if he gets beaten by Sutil.


Almost zero.

True. Any potential big drives will diminish when they see he's not a team player.

If it's a wet race then he might be able to recover and get a pretty decent result out of if as he has should have more life left in his inter tyres and one new set more than most of those in front of him.

Yet another shocker from McLaren yesterday. Surely heads have got to roll over this disaster of a season.

6 races in now and still no improvement. They could quite easily finish 6th in the constructors this season which would cost them millions. Not only is the car far behind but yesterday after the red flag they need Button out first so he could have a flying lap.

Yet they got him out so far behind the others he could not even get across the line in time for a flying lap. All so very amateur this season from every dept there.

McLaren didn't mess up, button did he tried to create to big a gap to the car in front. Somewhat embarrassing mistake by button.

Di Rests would win the moan of, but button isn't too far behind.

Yeah I don't get how button didn't know to forget about making a gap and just get over the line. I guess they are trying to max it get a lap and a gap to do it. One must over ride the other when you are outside the top 10. Get the lap started and pass the car in front if you need to.

Quite an unhappy looking dog. Likely because it is designer bread to have all that lose skin.

Somedody was saying recently mclaren would have never had a dog in their garage. Loud engines all the hustle etc make the F1 paddock unsuitable for dogs. Not really fair on the dog it being there.