Pirelli says Mercedes did not test tweaked F1 tyres

Mercedes machenic with Pirelli F1 tyres

Pirelli on Friday categorically denied Mercedes has already tried the new tyre that other teams will only test for the first time next Friday.

Amid the controversy about Mercedes' exclusive 'secret' tyre test at Barcelona after the Spanish grand prix, F1's tyre supplier released a comprehensive media statement.

The biggest piece of new info is Pirelli's denial that Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have already run the design tweaks that will be supplied to the rest of the field only next Friday in Canada, ahead of a possible race debut at Silverstone.

"The tyres used (by Mercedes) were not from the current championship but belonged to a range of products still being developed in view of an eventual renewal of the supply contract (beyond 2013)," read part of the Pirelli statement.

It reiterated that the tyres tested by Mercedes are "not in use in the current season and not destined to be used later during the 2013 season".

Pirelli also said Mercedes' controversial use of its 2013 car was "the subject of discussions between the team and (the) FIA" prior to the Barcelona test.

"Pirelli made no requests and had no way of knowing if rules were being violated," the statement added.

Pirelli also confirmed that the changes to be tested in Canada will not affect "the duration of the tyres" and "the number of pitstops", due to the "lack of unanimity on the part of the teams".

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