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Ferrari 'disappointed' to become object of Mercedes defence

Ferrari 'disappointed' to become object of Mercedes defence

  • Published on 24 Jun 2013 15:08
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Ferrari has admitted it is "disappointed" to have been used as part of Mercedes' defence as the German team escaped from the test-gate scandal with a light penalty. Before the judges ruled that Mercedes be only reprimanded and banned from next month's young drivers test, its lawyer argued extensively at the international tribunal that Ferrari also did the wrong thing with recent private tyre tests.

Indeed, it emerged from last week's proceedings that while Ferrari used a 2011 car for its Pirelli tests, race driver Felipe Massa had been in action. A Ferrari spokesman told Sport Bild that Mercedes' defence "disappointed" the Maranello team. "It was unfortunate that we became the object of their defence in this way," a spokesman is also quoted by the German newspaper Bild.

More widely, the world of F1 is viewing Mercedes' penalties as overly light, particularly as the Brackley based camp is so happy with the outcome. "The judgement is appropriate; indeed, the court largely followed the suggestion of our lawyer," motor sport director Toto Wolff, referring to Mercedes' offer to sit out the Silverstone tests, told DPA news agency.

He denied that boss Ross Brawn's position was ever in doubt. "Ross is an important part of our team," said Wolff. "Now we can all get back to work."

Just before the hearing, Wolff's colleague Niki Lauda suggested that he had almost brokered an out-of-court peace deal, only for Mercedes chiefs to reject it. "All sorts of things were discussed," Wolff admitted, "but in the end we chose to go the transparent way, with the assistance of Stuttgart, that everything is clear and harmonious."

Nonetheless, there are rumours Mercedes indeed 'did a deal' that would satisfy the FIA in terms of the rules breach but keep the German carmaker on the grid. "Some," agreed Der Spiegel correspondent Ralf Bach, "have the feeling that the FIA negotiated a deal with Mercedes."

Indeed, former F1 boss Colin Kolles called the light penalty "inexplicable", and the world's press largely agreed. Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport said the verdict is "a joke" and "ridiculous", while even Germany's Bild and Auto Motor und Sport described it as "wishy washy" and "surprisingly lenient".

Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for Switzerland's Blick, wondered if the judgement was light "because they feared Mercedes' withdrawal". "Without Mercedes, formula one would be a disaster -- next year they're also supplying Williams, Force India and McLaren with the new turbo engines", he added. (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
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Circuit Suzuka
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Shanghai International Circuit
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Gilles Villeneuve
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Hungaroring
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Italy
Monza
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Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
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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
6 - Dec 8
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
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
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24 - May 26
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28 - Jun 30
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5 - Jul 7
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26 - Jul 28
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23 - Aug 25
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30 - Sep 1
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13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
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18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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22 - Nov 24
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29 - Dec 1
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BR Felipe Massa -
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  • Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Sao Paulo, BR
  • Weight 59 kg
  • Length 1.66 m
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