Fury grows in F1 paddock at Mercedes ‘illegal’ testing

A further three teams have criticised Mercedes for joining with Pirelli in what they believe was an illegal in-season test earlier this month.

Lotus, Force India and Marussia weighed into the debate over Mercedes’ decision to join forces with the Italian tyre manufacturer for a 1,000 kilometre test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona between May 15 and 17, three days after the Spanish Grand Prix.

Formula One’s sporting regulations state only a two-year-old car piloted by a test driver can be used for such purposes, yet Mercedes employed their current model and with regular drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the wheel.