Stewards refer Mercedes tyre test protest to FIA:
Monaco Grand Prix stewards are to write a report to the FIA regarding Mercedes’ recent Pirelli tyre test.
It follows Sunday’s protest from Red Bull and Ferrari questioning the legality of running such a test with a 2013 car under current Formula One regulations.
The sport’s governing body may then bring the matter before the International Tribunal.
Although F1 regulations prohibit in-season testing by teams, Pirelli’s contract with the FIA as the sport’s official tyre supplier allows them to carry out up to 1000 kilometres of development testing with any team, provided every team is offered the opportunity.
In a statement issued to the media following the stewards’ decision, the FIA said it had responded positively to an initial enquiry from Pirelli regarding the possibility of such a test with Mercedes’ current car, as long as the test was
conducted by Pirelli and not Mercedes, and as long as all other teams were given the same opportunity.
However, the FIA said it had received no subsequent confirmation from Pirelli or Mercedes that the test - carried out in Barcelona in the week following the Spanish Grand Prix - was going ahead, or that other teams had been given the chance to take part.
Neither Pirelli nor Mercedes have released any official comment on the matter following the stewards' decision.
