Hamilton, Mercedes may be banned from F1 over `secret` tyre test

London: Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team could reportedly be banned from racing after the governing body decided to hold a hearing into their secret tyre test.

The `secret` session, arranged by tyre supplier Pirelli, only came to light after a Mercedes team member mentioned it in a technical meeting before the Monte Carlo race. Although the FIA had announced that there would be no investigation into the circumstances of an earlier secret tyre test by Ferrari because they used a two-year-old car for the procedure, however an inquiry was carried out into the circumstances of the test by Mercedes after Ferrari and world champions Red Bull lodged a protest. According to a FIA statement, the conditions of the Mercedes testing may constitute a breach of the applicable FIA rules, adding that the FIA International Tribunal is called upon to make a decision in compliance with the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules. The investigation and subsequent hearing could take up to 45 days. Although rival teams claim that Mercedes, who wore out their tyres quicker, had gained an advantage from the test, however, Mercedes have denied that they broke the rules and claimed that it was a Pirelli -organised test. ANI