Ferrari: Mercedes 2013 car use all that matters in F1 tyre test row

Motor racing's governing body announced on Friday night that both Ferrari and Mercedes had been asked to provide an explanation about recent testing they have conducted for F1's official tyre supplier.

Mercedes has been under the main spotlight so far, with its running of a 2013 car at Barcelona last month the subject of a protest from both Red Bull and Ferrari.

However, Ferrari has also been asked to provide details about a run that its Corse Clienti division did for Pirelli with a 2011 car at Barcelona shortly after this year's Bahrain Grand Prix.

Ferrari's involvement in the investigation has prompted talk that it too could face a disciplinary hearing, even though F1 regulations allow teams to run two-year-old cars.

Reacting to the FIA decision, the Maranello-based team made it clear its focus is not on proving it did nothing wrong but on ensuring that F1's testing rules are not broken as they appear to have been done by Mercedes.

Ferrari has no doubts that runs like that conducted by Mercedes at Barcelona after the Spanish GP with a current car are not allowed.

A Ferrari spokesman told AUTOSPORT: "In reference to the numerous comments and interpretations circulated in recent days, Ferrari does not wish to make any further comment.

"The situation is rather straightforward [and has been] from the moment that a team broke what is a very clear regulation.

"The fundamental question refers to the compliance with article 22 of the sporting regulations, which does not allow the use of a current or previous year's car for any kind of testing carried out during the season.

"This is the only substantial aspect. Everything else is irrelevant detail."

Mercedes insists that its running of a 2013 car, which is a breach of the rules, was ratified by the FIA.

Should the disciplinary hearing believe that either team has a case to answer to, then the matter will go to the FIA's International Tribunal.