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Red Bull Racing wanted $100m fine for Mercedes - report

Red Bull Racing wanted $100m fine for Mercedes - report

  • Published on 24 Jun 2013 08:44
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
The curious outcome of the 'test-gate' saga is that, although found guilty of breaking the rules, Mercedes is reacting with relief at the outcome of the international tribunal' verdict. And Ferrari, though its ascerbic 'Horse Whisperer' column, and fellow protester Red Bull, sound like the losers, angry that their German rival is only banned from the forthcoming young drivers' test.

Indeed, Austrians Niki Lauda - Mercedes chairman - and Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko made a bet in the midst of the scandal in which the 'loser' would have to pay EUR 50 to the winner. Lauda sent Marko only a text message. "Punishment is punishment," Marko told Bild. "He should put his money in an envelope." Marko, however, can actually see 'winner' Lauda's side of the argument, describing the judges' verdict as "a joke". "We expected a much harder decision," he said.

In fact, Bild newspaper claims Red Bull submitted to the tribunal that Mercedes should be fined $100 million - a la the McLaren 'spygate' scandal - and docked 150 constructors' championship points. As it happens, Mercedes is happy with the outcome. "It is a relief," admitted team director and co-owner Toto Wolff, "but we only pop champagne bottles when we win on the track." Lauda added: "The decision of the FIA is absolutely correct, and in the spirit of motor racing."

But he insists that Mercedes also would have accepted a harsher penalty. "Without doubt we would not have appealed a harsher judgement," triple world champion Lauda told Welt am Sonntag newspaper. "I've been in this sport for decades, and what I was concerned about the most was the harmony and mutual respect between the teams. In a sport where technology plays such an important role, there will always be misunderstandings and room for interpretation -- it's completely normal." (GMM)

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Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia
Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
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Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
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26 - May 28
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Monte Carlo
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Circuit de Catalunya
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Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria
Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy
Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy
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Italy
-
Italy
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Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
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21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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