Currently reading: Mercedes and Pirelli guilty of tyre test rules infringement
Mercedes banned from taking part in young driver test next month as punishment

Mercedes has been found guilty of breaking the rules in F1 by using a 2013 car during tests for Pirelli earlier this year.

However, its punishment is relatively minor: it will not be allowed to take part in next month's three-day young driver test at Silverstone.

In a statement, the tribunal announced that Mercedes was guilty of a breach of the regulations and had to be reprimanded. It also deemed that Mercedes had gained an unfair advantage by running a 2013 car in the test.

At the hearing the previous day, Mercedes had argued that a ban from the young driver test would be an appropriate punishment if it was found to have breached the sport's rules, a plea that was heeded by the four-strong tribunal panel.

Pirelli was also reprimanded for its role in the test arrangements.

Mercedes has confirmed it will not appeal the decision.

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bomb 21 June 2013

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To punish Mercedes further would have been ridiculous.

The FIA basically OK'ed the test on the proviso that other teams were told so as not to be 'seen' to be gaining an unfair advantage.

Does the fact that Mercedes didn't inform other teams suddenly mean they did gain an advantage?

The FIA didn't have a leg to stand on. A big waste of time and a token punishment.

Lanehogger 21 June 2013

Mercedes threatened to pull

Mercedes threatened to pull out, but this seems unlikely after this pitiful punishment. Will other teams now do the same, or carry out other infringements, if punishments are minor. If the tyre testing rule being broken by Mercedes matters so much to the other teams, perhaps they should threaten the FIA. Maybe boycott a Grand Prix for example.

Citytiger 21 June 2013

Mercedes threaten to take

Mercedes threaten to take their ball away and the FIA bottled out, Mercedes may not be appealing, however if I was one of the other teams, I would be, it makes a mockery of the testing ban, what is now preventing other teams testing and accepting a slap on the wrist.