Mercedes facing the rest of the F1 paddock

While the first free practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix has just ended, the Pirelli testing affair / Mercedes continues to monopolize the debates in the Montreal paddock. If the FIA ​​announced this week that the German team was going to have to explain itself to the International Tribunal, the star manufacturer maintains its line of defense by claiming to have gained no benefit from these tests carried out with the official drivers on the W04s. “It was just a Pirelli test, they were telling us exactly what to do.”, insisted Nico Rosberg, last winner of the Monaco GP, on Sky Sports News. “We didn’t have anything to say, they told us to do this, this and this. It wasn't about us learning something or deciding what we should do. »

But these justifications do not suit rival teams who consider themselves disadvantaged against Mercedes AMG F1 who was able to cover nearly 1000km of tests with the car registered for the current Championship. Otmar Szafnauer, the operations director of Force India celebrating its 100th Grand Prix this weekend in Montreal, replied on the British channel. “It’s a huge advantage. This has nothing to do with us, but it would also be beneficial for us if we could benefit from three days of testing. »

F1 is therefore evolving in uncertainty as to the outcome of this affair. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the FIA ​​International Tribunal could decide this month, before the British Grand Prix which will be held from June 28 to 30 at Silverstone.