Emilia Romagna GP || May 19 || 15h00 (Local time)
7 May 2024
Mercedes accepts FIA decision and will not appeal
The team says reprimand and ban ’proportionate’
Mercedes on Friday said it will not appeal the international tribunal’s verdict, therefore closing the ’test-gate’ scandal.
The tribunal’s judges revealed earlier that the Brackley based team has been reprimanded, banned from the forthcoming young drivers’ test at Silverstone, and ordered to pay a share of the legal costs.
It had the right to appeal within 7 days.
But in a media statement, Mercedes described the penalties as "proportionate".
"(The tribunal) confirmed that the team acted in good faith regarding the Pirelli tests, never intended to obtain any unfair sporting advantage and had no reason to believe that approval ... had not been given," it read.
Mercedes said it will not appeal "in the best interests of the sport".
Full statement
The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team acknowledges and accepts the Decision of the FIA International Tribunal published today.
The Decision of the International Tribunal confirmed that the team acted in good faith regarding the Pirelli Tests, never intended to obtain any unfair sporting advantage and had no reason to believe that approval for the Pirelli Tests had not been given.
Mercedes accepts the proportionate penalties of a reprimand and suspension from the forthcoming Young Driver Test that have been decided upon by the Tribunal.
Mercedes would like to once again restate its firm belief in proper due process and commend the FIA for the principle of an independent disciplinary body.
The team would furthermore like to thank the International Tribunal and its President for the fair hearing it received yesterday.
In the best interests of the sport, the team does not intend to avail itself of any right to appeal the Decision.
Mercedes looks forward to working with the FIA and its fellow competitors to establish a more rigorous procedure for testing in the future, particularly to support the appointed tyre supplier.
We now wish to bring this matter to a close and focus on the forthcoming British and German Grands Prix, both of which are important home races for the team.
