<p>Controversy erupted at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday after it emerged that Mercedes, who swept the front row in qualifying for the Formula One race, carried out a secret tyre test with Pirelli last week.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who found out ‘second hand’ only on Saturday night, told reporters he would be seeking ‘clarification’ and suggested Mercedes had gained an advantage. <br /><br />The Formula One regulations ban in-season testing but Pirelli said their contract stipulated that they could do 1,000 km private tests with a ‘representative’ car and the three days in Spain were legal. <br /><br />“What’s disappointing is it has been done in not a transparent manner that a three-day test has taken place with a current car running on tyres that are going to be used at the next Grand Prix,” an unhappy Horner said. <br /><br />“Irrespective of what you call it, that’s testing.” <br /><br />Pirelli motorsport head Paul Hembery, already under fire from Red Bull over the quick-wearing current tyres, said the test in Barcelona after the Spanish Grand Prix had not been the first of its kind.</p>
<p>Controversy erupted at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday after it emerged that Mercedes, who swept the front row in qualifying for the Formula One race, carried out a secret tyre test with Pirelli last week.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who found out ‘second hand’ only on Saturday night, told reporters he would be seeking ‘clarification’ and suggested Mercedes had gained an advantage. <br /><br />The Formula One regulations ban in-season testing but Pirelli said their contract stipulated that they could do 1,000 km private tests with a ‘representative’ car and the three days in Spain were legal. <br /><br />“What’s disappointing is it has been done in not a transparent manner that a three-day test has taken place with a current car running on tyres that are going to be used at the next Grand Prix,” an unhappy Horner said. <br /><br />“Irrespective of what you call it, that’s testing.” <br /><br />Pirelli motorsport head Paul Hembery, already under fire from Red Bull over the quick-wearing current tyres, said the test in Barcelona after the Spanish Grand Prix had not been the first of its kind.</p>