06/09/2015
NEWS STORY
In the moments after today's Italian Grand Prix, the stewards at Monza requested a Mercedes team representative to report to them.
It is thought the team is under investigation for the tyre pressures on its cars.
In the final stages of the race, Lewis Hamilton, despite enjoying a significant lead over second-placed Sebastian Vettel, was told to up his pace, though a reason was not given.
Unhappy with the call, Hamilton did indeed up his pace, his team advising that the reason would be explained later.
"I have to say Bono, those last few laps were not cool," Hamilton told his engineer Peter Bonnington after taking the flag. The Briton immediately warned to observe "Talk mode zero."
With Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda refusing to shed further light on the mystery communications, paddock speculation shifted to the tyres, Pirelli boss Paul Hembery having previously warned that teams which flouted tyres pressure advice, in the wake of the incidents at Spa, would be investigated.
This was confirmed when FIA technical delegate, Jo Bauer, issued notice during the race - it was timed at 15:04 - that the German team was under investigation.
"On the grid and after the 5-Minutes signal the tyre starting pressure and tread surface temperature of the left hand side rear tyre were checked on car numbers 44 (Hamilton), 06 (Rosberg), 05 (Vettel) and 07 (Raikkonen) and were compared with the specifications of the official Formula One tyre supplier," he wrote.
"The specification for the minimum starting pressure is 19.5 PSI for the dry weather rear tyres and the maximum tyre blanket temperature is 110 °C for all dry weather tyres.
"The tread surface temperature of the left hand side rear tyre of car numbers 44, 06, 05 and 07 was within the specification of the official Formula One tyre supplier.
"The measured minimum tyre starting pressure of the left hand side rear tyre of car numbers 05 and 07 was above the specified minimum tyre starting pressure.
"The measured minimum tyre starting pressure of the left hand side rear tyre of car number 44 was 0.3 PSI below the specified minimum tyre starting pressure and the measured minimum tyre starting pressure of car number 06 was 1.1 PSI below the specified minimum tyre starting pressure.
"The tyre pressures were checked with the calibrated tyre pressure gauge of the official Formula One tyre supplier on all four cars.
"I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration."
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