Banned Mercedes to receive Silverstone test data

Jul.18 (GMM) Pirelli will share tyre data from this week's Silverstone test with Mercedes, even though the Brackley based team is banned from running.

Lotus poked fun at Mercedes' absence as the Silverstone session kicked off on Wednesday, showing a 'WhereIsRoscoe' Twitter hashtag on the livery of its F1 car.

Roscoe is Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton's bulldog, who accompanies the 2008 world champion to European tests and races.

But even though Mercedes is banned as a result of the 'test-gate' scandal, Pirelli has revealed it still must share information about the new Hungary-spec tyres with the team.

"Our policy requires that we give all teams the same feedback," motor sport boss Paul Hembery is quoted by Germany's T-Online.

"Everyone gets the same information," he added.

The impact of Mercedes' absence has also been lessened by a clarification from the FIA and Pirelli about what race drivers can test this week at Silverstone.

As a result, Red Bull dropped Mark Webber from its driver lineup at the last minute, and Lotus sidelined Kimi Raikkonen.

Lotus said the clarification had made clear that "race drivers would be unable to test anything other than tyres".

Hembery is quoted by Speed Week: "We have a clear programme, and the teams have to do what we tell them.

"Mercedes already has a lot of data in terms of the shape of the 2012 tyre, and they - like all the teams - will receive an analysis of the test, as is normal."