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No further action over Mercedes tyre pressure investigation

06 Sep 2015

Formula One racing's governing body the FIA have confirmed that no further action will be taken with regards to Mercedes' potentially breaching the minimum starting tyre pressures at Monza.

As a result, Lewis Hamilton is set to remain victor of the Formula 1 Gran Premio d’Italia 2015.

The concern centred around guidelines issued by Pirelli stating that teams must start the race with tyre pressures of 19.5psi or above. When both Mercedes were checked, Hamilton’s left-rear tyre was found to be 0.3psi below the required mark, with the same tyre on Nico Rosberg's car 1.1 psi under.

Even as the national anthems played on the podium, the race result was therefore suddenly thrown into doubt, with Mercedes summoned to see the stewards. But after hearing from the relevant parties, the FIA confirmed that the team had no case to answer.

"Having heard from the Technical Delegate, the Team Representatives and the Pirelli Team Tyre engineer, the Stewards have determined that the pressure in the tyres concerned were at the minimum start pressure recommended by Pirelli when they were fitted to the car," read a statement from the FIA. 

"In making this determination regarding the pressures, the Stewards noted that the tyre warming blankets had been disconnected from their power source, as is normal procedure, and the tyres were significantly below the maximum permitted tyre blanket temperature at the time of the FIA’s measurement on the grid, and at significantly different temperatures from other cars measured on the grid. 

"Further, the Stewards are satisfied that the team followed the currently specified procedure, supervised by the Tyre Manufacturer, for the safe operation of the tyres. Therefore the Stewards decide to take no further action.

"Nevertheless, the Stewards recommend that the Tyre Manufacturer and the FIA hold further meetings to provide clear guidance to the teams on measurement protocols."