Formula One 2013

[Lineker]

Man, I really hope that they can score a point. Great stuff. Rosberg getting a hat-trick of poles is nice too.

Nico Rosberg claimed his third Formula 1 pole position in a row in Monaco Grand Prix qualifying, as Mercedes fended off Red Bull's challenge to fill the front row again.

After practice sessions that had suggested a Mercedes versus Ferrari battle, Red Bull raised its game in a qualifying session that began damp and remained drizzly until the end.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were provisionally first and second following the first Q3 runs, and with the rain appearing set to increase, it looked like Red Bull might have the front row sealed.

But Mercedes found more pace in the last seconds, with Lewis Hamilton first leaping to the front on a 1m13.967s, and then Rosberg pipping him by 0.091 seconds.

Vettel was 0.013s down on Hamilton as he denied Webber third place.

Kimi Raikkonen took fifth for Lotus, while Ferrari had a tough session.

Fernando Alonso could only manage sixth, and his team-mate Felipe Massa did not take part at all as the damage from his practice three crash could not be repaired in time.

McLaren's Sergio Perez and Jenson Button were seventh and ninth, split by Adrian Sutil's Force India.

Jean-Eric Vergne completed the top 10 in a strong performance for Toro Rosso.

There was an element of lottery to getting into the top 10 as Q2 came to a frenetic end, with everyone diving for slicks in the final four minutes and then trying to get the best out of an ever-quicker track.

Romain Grosjean was among those to lose out. His 13th place was an anti-climax after a star Q1 performance, when he had shot to the front briefly on the single flying lap he had time for once Lotus had repaired his practice crash damage.

The other big story of Q2 was Giedo van der Garde's effort. The Dutchman got Caterham through Q1 for the first time in 2013 and was a top-10 factor when Q2 was at its most slippery.

He eventually ended up 15th, beating Q1 pacesetter Pastor Maldonado's Williams. Maldonado was two places behind team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Also out in Q2 were Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo, who share row six.

Paul di Resta was left enraged with Force India's tactics as he missed the Q1 cut and ended up 17th. Esteban Gutierrez also fell in the first segment, behind Charles Pic in 19th.

Jules Bianchi will join Massa on the back row, having parked on his out-lap with a fire in his Marussia's airbox.

[Summers]

Just sky for the race?

[Lineker]

Yeah, they've actually been advertising it with ONLY in bigger, bolder letters - the Beeb have a highlights show at 17:35 though.

[Lineker]

Controversy!!

Mercedes is at the centre of a growing controversy ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix after it emerged the team had conducted a private 1000 kilometre tyre test at Barcelona after the last race.

The Brackley-based outfit has struggled to work out why its race form is no match for its qualifying efforts this season, having now secured four consecutive pole positions but struggled with tyre wear in the races.

AUTOSPORT can reveal that rival outfits have been left deeply unhappy that Mercedes was given a golden chance to boost its understanding of the issue with a private test at Barcelona last week. Due to weather interruptions, it extended over three days.

Although in-season testing is banned, it is understood that Mercedes was requested by Pirelli to help work through the issues that the Italian tyre manufacturer has experienced in the last few races.

According to sources at Mercedes, the test was allowed because Pirelli can call upon one outfit for a private test to help it with products if circumstances dictate.

Mercedes is adamant that its running at Barcelona was totally within the regulations, but high-level sources have revealed that other teams are not convinced and the matter has now been taken up with the FIA.

Team principal Ross Brawn said that his outfit had worked tirelessly on the tyre issue since Barcelona - but did not make reference to the test when asked about what the team had done since the Spanish GP.

"I think when we got back from Barcelona we had some pretty long and deep meetings and decided a course of action," he explained.

"There were a lot of things going on already, so I don't want to create the impression that we got back and all of a sudden we started work. There was a lot of work going on already.

"I think some of the work was refocused in areas that we thought were maybe more relevant and in the last couple of weeks, Bob [bell] has been directing all the engineering team to make sure that they focus on the areas that we felt were most important.

"We have come here with changes, and it is almost impossible at Monaco to judge those changes but we believe that they are relevant and give another snap shot of that at Montreal.

"But it won't be until we get to Silverstone that I think we can judge where we stand and there are more changes that we are trying - and trying to establish those changes in the best possible way with the limitations of going to races."

Elsewhere, Renault has confirmed it will supply Toro Rosso with Formula 1 engines next year.

[LUKIE]

Sergio doing the smart passing tactic. Someone did the same thing a year or two ago and minced up the field, just cannonballing out of the tunnel into the chicane and causing others to cut it only to be fed the place afterwards. I forget whom.

[Katsuya]

Fucking Perez went in to that way, way too late.

[Fry_4000]

perfect drive from Nico. Kimi somehow scores a point from nowhere.

[LUKIE]

Fucking Perez went in to that way, way too late.

It's always a risky move. Raikonnen turned in on him really late though and he wasn't taking the corner, as the corner does not cut through the wall. He was pissed from the incident before!

[Katsuya]

New favourite thing: Bottas just told Finnish TV that he thought Kimi was leading the race and moved over to let him through.

[LUKIE]

That is amazing. They didn't show the replay of the over-take so was wondering what had happened.

[Lineker]

Finished watching the last few laps this morning. Fantastic race!

[Lineker]

Grosjean has blamed his crash on Ricciardo! Brilliant!

Despite this, he has been given a ten-place grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix. The only chance I can see him having of being retained by Lotus is if Kimi goes to Red Bull.

I also fucking love this picture:



So cool!

[Lineker]

Williams has confirmed it will switch to Mercedes engines next season in what it describes as a "long-term" partnership. As part of the deal, Mercedes will supply all associated energy recovery systems for the power unit, although Williams will continue to design and produce its own transmission.

Williams has also announced its CEO Alex Burns is leaving the team with immediate effect and will be replaced by Mike O'Driscoll.

Pirelli's modified 2013-specification rear tyres will only be used in Friday practice at next week's Canadian Grand Prix, rather than for the whole weekend as originally hoped. A Pirelli spokesperson has confirmed that the modified rubber, which will feature a 2012-style kevlar belt rather than the steel belt used in the current race tyres, will be evaluated during practice. Each team will be given two sets of the new-specification rubber for evaluation with a view to them being used as race tyres from the British Grand Prix at the end of June onwards. Pirelli had initially hoped to use the new rubber for the whole weekend in Canada, but struggled to get unanimous support from all teams. By giving the teams extra sets for practice, this allows the tweaks to be tested before they are raced.

[Lineker]

Pirelli statement, insisting it did not act improperly, say tests will continue in the future.

THE FULL STATEMENT FROM PIRELLI

Pirelli, in development testing with teams carried out in 2013, has not favoured any teams and, as always, acted professionally, with transparency and in absolute good faith. The tyres used were not from the current championship but belonged to a range of products still being developed in view of an eventual renewal of the supply contract. Further, none of the tests were carried for the purpose of enhancing specific cars, but only to test tyre solutions for future championships.

The use of the car utilised by Mercedes, in particular, was the result of direct communication between FIA and the team itself. Pirelli did not ask in any way that a 2013 car be used: not of Mercedes nor FIA nor the teams which, during the year, were offered the opportunity of participating in tests for the development of tyres for 2014.

The tyres that will be tested by the teams in the free practice at the Montreal Grand Prix have never been used by the teams before. With regard to the new tyres, the problem of delamination has been solved by Pirelli's technicians exclusively through laboratory testing. Delamination, which only occurred on four occasions and always because of on-track detritus, has never put the drivers' safety at risk, but does risk harming Pirelli's image. This is why the company decided to intervene.

With regard to the rules which govern its conduct, the company has always respected the contractual limits which bind it to the FIA, teams and championship's organisers, and has always respected the principles of sporting loyalty.

Pirelli, however, feels the need to reaffirm the indisputable need to carry out tests for the development of tyres which are adequate and regulated by rules which are clear and shared by all the interested parties. The company confirms its availability, as communicated to the teams many times in the past, to organise tests for the development of tyres for 2014 with all the teams in the championship.

PIRELLI'S ANSWERS TO FIA

With regard to requests for information received from FIA, Pirelli promptly provided the answers needed to clarify what happened at the tests, as far as its own responsibilities went.

DEVELOPMENT TESTS FOR 2014 TYRES WERE OFFERED TO ALL: NO FAVOURTISM

The tests were conducted in observance of the contract between Pirelli and FIA, which gives the supplier the possibility of carrying out tests for the development of tyres with each team of up to 1,000 kilometres, without specifying the type of car to be used, nor sanctioning the simultaneous presence of all the teams for the running of the tests.

In this regard, Pirelli has since 2010 made it clear that it is neither possible nor useful to carry out this type of test with all the teams simultaneously. In fact, this type of testing aimed at technological development and researching new solutions, involves many tyres of different types which must be tested with a single car at a time.

Testing for championship specifications is different, as occurs in winter testing which require the participation of all the teams, so as to find the most satisfying solutions for all the cars in the competition. For this reason, Pirelli insists on the need for winter testing under conditions which are truly representative of the situations which will be met during the championship.

Already in March 2012, Pirelli sent an email to all the teams, FIA and FOM, inviting the teams to indicate their availability for testing for the development of tyres for 2013. Further, the company explained that it was necessary to conduct the tests with the teams' cars because it did not have a suitable one of its own (Pirelli has the use of an adapted 2010 Renault and, before that, a 2009 Toyota).

The invitation was subsequently repeated in various official contexts and repeated to some teams last March for the development of tyres for 2014.

THE TEST CONDUCTED IN BARCELONA WAS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TYRES FOR 2014 AND NOT FOR THE MODIFICATION OF 2013 SPECIFICATIONS

This test, as always, carried out with a single compound never used in a championship, regarded structures not in use in the current season and not destined to be used later during the 2013 season. The tyre tests were conducted "in the dark", which means that the teams had no information on which specifications were being tested or about the goal of the testing; nor did they receive any type of information afterwards.

Further, the tests did not regard delamination in any way, as that problem was dealt with and resolved by Pirelli's technicians through laboratory tests, with the support of data gathered during the first races of the season.

Pirelli always asked for representative cars, that is, with performances comparable to those of the cars being used in the championship underway, without ever referring to those effectively used in the 2013 races.

The '2013 MERCEDES' AT BARCELONA WAS THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE TEAM AND FIA. PIRELLI MADE NO REQUESTS AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWIING IF RULES WERE BEING VIOLATED

The Barcelona test was conducted in cooperation with Mercedes between May 15 and May 17, 2013. The teams made available one car and two first tier drivers, who alternated at the wheel on different days.

The trials were done with a base compound, not in use this year, and 12 different structures which had never been used in 2013, only one of which with kevlar.

The team did not obtain any advantage with regard to knowledge of the behaviour of the tyres in use in the current championship.

The type of car used during the tests was the subject of direct discussions between Mercedes and FIA, as shown in the exchange of emails between the team and Pirelli. In particular, Mercedes informed Pirelli that its 2011 car could not be used and that it had already contacted FIA regarding the use of the 2013 car. There is no doubt that the questions relating to the vehicle were the exclusive domain of the team and that Pirelli was excluded from these questions (notwithstanding Pirelli's need, from a technical point of view, to have a representative car in terms of impact on the performance of the tyres).

To confirm that this was an ordinary development test and not aimed at specific interventions, Pirelli made no specific requests about the drivers or about the type of Mercedes staff that would be present during the tests and had fielded its normal team for development testing.

EXPERIMENTAL TYRES FOR THE CANADA GP NEVER USED BEFORE

The tyres with the new structures in kevlar which will be given to the teams during the free practice at the Montreal Grand Prix will for the first time be track tested, following laboratory development. The new tyres have overcome the problem of delamination. This phenomenon in no manner compromises the drivers' safety but risks damaging the company's image. At the Canada tests, the teams will have the opportunity to express their opinions and make observations.

NO CHANGE TO THE 'DURATION' OF THE TYRES

Pirelli, ready as it is to make changes at any moment, has made no modifications that effect the duration of the tyres and, consequently, on the number of pitstops during the race because of a lack of unanimity of the part of the teams.

[Lineker]

Amazing, it's now emerged that Ferrari also did a Barcelona test and are being investigated also! They shouldn't have joined in with Res Bull's protests!

[MJB]

Amazing, it's now emerged that Ferrari also did a Barcelona test and are being investigated also! They shouldn't have joined in with Res Bull's protests!

The level of Ferrari's stupidity never ceases to amaze me. Why would they join the protest, knowing that this would (inevitably) come out?

[Gazz]

Because they're Ferrari and believe they are above FIA law.

[Lineker]

Mercedes will face an investigation from the FIA's International Tribunal regarding its recent secret tyre test with Pirelli, while Ferrari has been cleared for its test with a 2011 car.

The Mercedes test at Barcelona was referred to the stewards of the Monaco Grand Prix when Red Bull and Ferrari lodged a protest on that weekend.

The FIA had been waiting for a report from the Monaco stewards before deciding if Mercedes had a case to answer, and it has decided to pass the matter on to the International Tribunal.

How the International Tribunal works

The sport's governing body explained that it requested information from those involved and rival teams before coming to its conclusion.

Ferrari's own test with Pirelli, conducted at Barcelona in April with a 2011 car, was deemed not to breach the rules.

An FIA statement said: "In the light of all the replies received and in view of the information gathered during this inquiry, the president of the FIA, acting as the FIA prosecuting body, has decided:

"To close the case as regard to Scuderia Ferrari Team considering that its participation in a tyre test organised by Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013 using for this purpose a 2011 car is not deemed to contravene the applicable FIA rules.

"To bring the case concerning the tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013 before the FIA International Tribunal because it results from the inquiry that the conditions of this testing may constitute a breach of the applicable FIA rules.

"The FIA International Tribunal is called upon to make a decision in compliance with the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules."

THE FULL STATEMENT FROM THE FIA

The Monaco Grand Prix Stewards raised in their report to the FIA an issue concerning a tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli with the participation of Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013[1].

The FIA requested clarifications from Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in this respect.

The FIA also asked questions to Scuderia Ferrari Team, which took part in a tyre test with Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013.

The FIA requested all the other F1 Teams to provide the FIA with information they may have regarding any tests carried out by Pirelli during the 2013 season.

In the light of all the replies received and in view of the information gathered during this inquiry, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA prosecuting body, has decided:

* To close the case as regard to Scuderia Ferrari Team considering that its participation in a tyre test organized by Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013 using for this purpose a 2011 car is not deemed to contravene the applicable FIA rules.

* To bring the case concerning the tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013 before the FIA International Tribunal because it results from the inquiry that the conditions of this testing may constitute a breach of the applicable FIA rules.

The FIA International Tribunal is called upon to make a decision in compliance with the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.

[1] The Stewards' report follows the protests made by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari Team on the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 concerning its participation in the Barcelona tests (15-17 May 2013).

[The Sandman]

Bottas is third after qualifying. Awesome!

[Lineker]

Pic out-qualifying Grosjean in a Caterham

Two place grid penalties for Ricciardo and Raikkonen. Raikkonen loses just one place because his penalty was applied before Ricciardo's, and obviously Grosjean has his ten-place drop which puts him last.

Elsewhere, Thailand's plans to host a Formula 1 grand prix have hit trouble after Bangkok officials banned racing in the city's historic quarter.