Mercedes carried out tests on the tires before Monaco

According to several media including the BBC, Mercedes AMG F1 took advantage of the break between the Spanish Grand Prix and the Monaco race to carry out a three-day test session on the Catalunya circuit with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton to work on tires. The German team would have taken advantage of the clauses of the regulations after having notified the FIA. The Federation would not have opposed these tests. These tests would have been carried out with development tires designed for the next season and on the compounds that Pirelli wishes to introduce from the Canadian Grand Prix. The current pilots of the Flèches d’Argent have covered nearly 1000km. “We have an agreement with the FIA ​​which allows us to do 1000km of testing with the tires”, commented Paul Hembery to journalist Adam Cooper. “It’s something we also had in mind. WRC. We wrote to the teams last year to keep them informed and inviting them to give their opinion. Some teams answered yes, others did not answer. »

But these tests carried out by Mercedes are poorly accepted by certain teams. The opponents of the Silver Arrows believe that the German team has an advantage in managing tire degradation, a sector in which the W04s have suffered greatly since the start of the year. Red Bull Racing and Team Ferrari are reportedly considering asking the FIA ​​for clarification, as the only testing sessions authorized during the season are limited to aerodynamic tests carried out on straight lines. Red Bull finally lodged a complaint with the FIA.

The Mercedes will start on the front row on the grid for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Discover the photos of the Monaco Grand Prix by going to our gallery.