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F1 holds breath for Mercedes test-gate hearing

F1 holds breath for Mercedes test-gate hearing

  • Published on 20 Jun 2013 09:21
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
The F1 world is holding its collective breath ahead of the 'test-gate' hearing in Paris on Thursday. Predictably, rumours are swirling. Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims Mercedes boss Ross Brawn might be armed not only with an email from Charlie Whiting, but a separate document in which the highly controversial Barcelona test is green-lighted by the FIA's legal department.

But also rumoured is that it will be shown that Mercedes, and possibly also Pirelli, were clearly in the wrong, in which case severe penalties could await, and heads could roll. "Most people who are talking do not know the facts," Mercedes' Toto Wolff, who will not be in Paris, is quoted by Kleine Zeitung.

Indeed, Wolff has been busy in the last few days, and fellow team shareholder Niki Lauda admitted to Blick newspaper he spent "the whole Montreal weekend trying to prevent the (tribunal) process". Wolff's efforts of the last days, including meetings with Bernie Ecclestone in London, and Jean Todt in Paris, were also in vain, according to Sport Bild. So, also to appear before the 12-judge panel on Thursday morning will be Pirelli's Paul Hembery.

With Brawn representing Mercedes alone, Wolff denied the team's British boss - whose future successor Paddy Lowe is already working at Brackley - is the scapegoat. "Ross Brawn is not being sacrificed in Paris. That's not in my nature," Wolff told Bild. "Ross doesn't need someone like me there, holding his hand."

However, there is speculation that in the event of a high penalty - like hefty points deductions and a two-digit million fine - Brawn might voluntarily step down. McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by motorline.cc as suggesting that a penalty, if any, "should be decided by the FIA". "But usually a sporting penalty should be imposed for a sporting offence," he added, suggesting a mere fine will not be enough.

Former driver Marc Surer agrees: "Only a fine would mean that a team like Red Bull could also test for 1000 kilometres -- it would be relatively expensive, but doable. So there must be a sporting penalty," he insisted. (GMM)

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Date
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
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Shanghai International Circuit
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Monte Carlo
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Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
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Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
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United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
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United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
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China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
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Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
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Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
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23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
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United States of America Circuit of the Americas
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Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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