I understand the arguments against it that Mercedes has had 3 days of private testing. But come to think of it, it was FIA that "actively" encouraged them and "practically" gave them a go ahead to use the 2013 car. Their crime was far less serious than the crime commited by Lotus or RBR when they run parts/suspension that are not allowed, only to be told after a few races that you cant use them in the "future". In other words, FIA says, its ok to cheat as long as we dont catch you, once we catch you, Mr. Whiting will just tell his buddy Horner that change the car spec for the next race. And as for the advantage had in previous races running illegal parts, your for the taking bro, no worries at all.
But when Mercedes voilated the testing rule, on the behest of FIA (FIA is more culpable here than Mercedes thats why the linient punishment as Mercedes could have taken them to the court) you ban them from "young" driver test. However when its no "longer" a young driver test how can the punishment hold. They were banned from "young" driver test, not an old as dinosaur drivers test that is happening right now, innit?
Now you can argue that they had 3 days of testing. But so did Ferrari in all the more contreversial circusmtances (test paid for by Ferrari) in just what happened to be an older machine. But in Mercedes case they were advised by FIA's legal team your test is "legit". Once the punishment from tribunal was metted out, you cant change the goal post and say that now we are allowing "race" drivers from other teams to participate but Mercedes punishment effectively changes? Isnt this a bigger blow to them? Had they known in hindsight that "race" drivers would be allowed maybe tribunal would have handed a different decision, OR Mercedes would have had a right to challenge it?
You cant tell the convict post conviction that his punishment has effectively increased and he cant challenge it? Thats not natural justice. Lastly the point that Totto highlights is that all teams in 3 days test will be running "new" compounds and on safety ground Mercedes should have right to test them except going straight away into the race weekend. Free Practice race simulations are not long enough for them to know they "might" end up with a risky tire failure during a long race stint, do you want to jeopordise a team's driver or spectator safety in pretending to act fair by not allowing a team to test the new compounds for a problem that FIA is as much responsible as Mercedes to begin with.
Lastly this sport like all other sports over the years F1 has become more like Sports Entertainment. At least give credit to WWE for changing their name from WWF and having no calms about it. When you have commercial houses running the sports, paid drivers, needless restrictions on testing, than it really makes you think should we just stop watching the sport? When rules are bent, safety car deployed/not deployed based on whose leading and in which country (Nurburing perfect example when no safety car was deployed when Vettel was leading and Massa spun, but immidiately deployed when Grojsean catching up) than it leaves a sour taste in your mind. No consistancy in race marshals handing out penalties. Commentators give views about drivers based on their nationality and drive/shape public opinion.
Year after year after RBR virtually anhilates the field, with one team coming close in outright pace after few yars, what does FIA do? Ban them from testing for carrying out a secret test which they gave them permission for in the first place. Is this justice?
Lets hope sain heads prevail and Mercedes are allowed to test!
Edited by Techcheat, 09 July 2013 - 05:53.
But perhaps you can tell me?
