DUBAI — Pirelli dismissed allegations that it breached Formula One rules by conducting in-season tire testing with Mercedes, saying Friday it acted fairly and professionally over the test which it believes offered no benefit to the German team. The tire maker, criticized by several teams over concerns its tires were degrading too quickly this season, faces tough questions over the test which took place following the Spanish Grand Prix. Red Bull and Ferrari launched protests over the test following Sunday's Monaco GP, which was won by Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said the tire compounds tested are not going to be used in the 2013 season and therefore offered no benefit to Mercedes. Hembery said several teams were offered a chance to test but Mercedes was the first to take up the offer. “The tests were performed on tire specifications not used and will not be used in the 2013 world championship. The focus was on 2014,” Hembery said. “These tests were actually performed blind. Mercedes had no idea and has still no idea what was being tested. There was no benefit to them. The benefit was for Pirelli and F1 in general.” After Monaco, the sport's governing body said in a statement that “the stewards (present) will write a report to the FIA who may bring the matter before the International Tribunal.” In a further statement, the FIA warned Mercedes over its conduct and said its tribunal “may decide to inflict penalties that would supersede any penalty the stewards of the meeting may have issued.” Red Bull and Lotus accused Mercedes of holding secret tests — which it denied. “At the end of the day it's a breach of the sporting code,” Lotus principal Eric Boullier said. Hembery insisted Pirelli had done nothing wrong in holding the test, adding that it was done in a transparent manner and in consultation with both Mercedes and FIA. All the teams were made aware, he said, as far back as 2012 that they could avail themselves of this type of testing and the company has answered all questions from FIA since the inquiry began. “Some people have described the tests as secret. Well, this wouldn't win any James Bond prizes,” Hembery said. “We booked the circuit in our name two days after the Formula One race. We turned up in our truck dressed as Pirelli people with a brightly colored Mercedes car.” Hembery acknowledged they have done similar testing with another team whom he refused to disclose. He said Pirelli was in discussion with several other teams to do a similar test later in the season which he said was crucial given the changes expected in 2014. Teams will be forced to switch from 2.4 liter V8 engines to the more efficient, 1.6 liter V6 turbocharged hybrid power units. That leaves plenty of challenges for Pirelli should it renew its contract to be the sport's tire supplier. — AP
