Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMercedes

Mercedes under investigation for covering car

Mercedes is under investigation for covering part of Nico Rosberg's car during FP1 for the British Grand Prix.

Rosberg was told to stop out on track with a hydraulic issue, with the car having to be recovered to the pit lane on the back of a truck. When it was returned, Mercedes covered a number of areas of the car, which is forbidden under the sporting regulations as Article 27.4 states:

"During the entire Event, no screen, cover or other obstruction which in any way obscures any part of a car will be allowed at any time in the paddock, garages, pit lane or grid, unless it is clear any such covers are needed solely for mechanical reasons, which could, for example, include protecting against fire."

Following the end of practice, it was confirmed Mercedes is under investigation via a note from FIA technical delegate Joe Bauer.

"During P1 at 10:28 members of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team covered the underside, rear diffuser area and the front wing of car number 06 when it was brought back to the paddock after it having stopped on the ciruit due to a mechanical problem.

"As the car hasn’t suffered any kind of accident damage this in my opinion is a breach of Article 27.4 of the 2015 Formula One Sporting Regulations and I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration."

Rosberg had finished FP1 with the fastest time despite his stoppage.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.