Formula One

Briton James Calado conducted his second straight-line test of the year for the Force India outfit at the Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire on Wednesday.

In the round-up: Mercedes and Pirelli to learn fate over tyre test controversy • Hamilton concerns over F1 legacy • Lotus 'will be number one in 12 months'

Futures of Pirelli, Ross Brawn and FIA race director will be subject to feverish rumour as Paris tribunal begins.

• Button plays down expectations for British Grand Prix• 'This year is tough. We are still a long way behind'Jenson Button has admitted that his long wait for a podium finish at Silverstone is unlikely to come to an end at the British Grand Prix.It has been a disastrous season for McLaren, whose redesigned car has had profound problems from the start of the year; they are back in sixth place in the constructors' championship, behind the traditional midfield teams of Lotus and Force India. And in Montreal this month their run of 64 consecutive points-finishes came to an end when Button and his team-mate Sergio Pérez failed to make it into the top 10.Button, who is in 10th position in the drivers' championship, 107 points behind the leader and world champion Sebastian Vettel, said: "This year is tough. We are developing the car at the factory but we are still a long way behind."We would love to be able to give the fans a win. We will still give the best we have. The important thing is that we do everything we can to put on a good show for the British fans – whether that is finishing fifth or seventh, I don't know where we are going to be – but we have to feel we got everything out of it and we are happy with our achievement."It has been a desperately disappointing season for Button, who at the start of the year thought he had a chance of winning a second world title. His prospects were enhanced by Lewis Hamilton's switch to Mercedes.But now, at 33, he must come to terms with the reality that his chances of a second championship are remote. After McLaren's "gap year" this season the team will find it very difficult to mount a sustained challenge in 2014. That is when their contract with the engine supplier Mercedes comes to an end as they prepare to return to Honda for 2015.Button says the Silverstone experience is still a special one for him, however. "I still look forward to the British Grand Prix. I have a lot of good memories, even though I haven't had a podium. The fans are so supportive and I have been here in difficult times before and still [been] surprised by the support they have given me."Driving in front of the home crowd is very special. I came here in 1994, watching at Copse and Becketts, and watching the McLarens, Williams and Ferraris, to hear, see and smell a Formula One car."He added: "Maybe we did take a gamble with the direction of the car and it has not worked for us, but we are still a great team and we will fight back and win races again."Button also claims the sport is well supported, despite the contrived nature of much of the racing because of the tyre degrading leading to excessive pit stops.He said: "I don't think people are walking away from the sport. If you look at every sporting event, it is not as strong as maybe it was last year. That is just the way the world is at the moment."To sell out here would be very impressive but are there that many people who can afford to come? I agree that some of the racing hasn't been action-packed. It has been a lot more: 'After you, sir, because I am looking after my tyres'. But there have been good races. I am sure it makes a difference that a British driver has not won a grand prix this year."Jenson ButtonFormula One 2013Motor sportFormula OneMcLarenPaul Weaverguardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Ross Brawn says that Canada was a good weekend for Mercedes...

• Team could be thrown out of F1 world championship• Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, will be cross-examinedMercedes could be thrown out of the 2013 Formula One world championship when they appear before a 12-man FIA International tribunal in Paris on Thursday morning.Such an outcome could lead to them quitting the sport for good. But even if Mercedes are found guilty of contravening the FIA's ban on in-season testing using a current car, they are more likely to face a lesser punishment, such as a fine, a race ban or a points deduction. Confident of their innocence, they would appeal any guilty verdict to the International Court of Appeal.Mercedes and the tyre manufacturers Pirelli are in the dock following their three-day, 1,000km test held at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya between 15-17 May. Red Bull and Ferrari, who knew nothing about the test, claim that Mercedes gained an unfair advantage from the "illegal" session.According to the regulations, any car used in a test must be at least two years old, and driven by test drivers. In Barcelona, Mercedes' current WO4 cars were piloted by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.Article 22.1 of F1's Sporting Regulations says: "Track testing shall be considered any track running time not part of an Event undertaken by a competitor entered in the Championship, using cars which conform substantially with the current Formula One Technical Regulations in addition to those from the previous or subsequent year."The Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, and Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery will be cross-examined to discover whether a breach of the rule actually took place. Both teams have made written submissions to the tribunal, which will be led by British barrister Edwin Glasgow QC.Mercedes' compelling argument is that they received permission from the FIA to go ahead with the test. It is almost inconceivable that Brawn, the most experienced and successful of Formula One's team principals, would leave himself vulnerable by not getting the go-ahead from the sport's ruling body.Pirelli also has a supplier contract with the FIA in which it is allowed to conduct 1,000-kilometre tests with current teams using a "representative" car.The tribunal must decided which takes precedence – the Sporting Regulations or the special circumstances presented by Mercedes and Pirelli.But if Mercedes and Pirelli win it will be a major embarrassment for the FIA and its rather accident-prone president, Jean Todt.Todt is expected to be re-elected later this year despite being badly wounded this season. He failed to attend the schedule's most controversial race in Bahrain in April and several teams have privately complained about a lack of leadership.Mercedes GPMotor sportFormula OneFormula One 2013Paul Weaverguardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

The saga affectionately known as 'Tire-gate' will finally come to a head on Thursday as Mercedes brace themselves to face the FIA Tribunal...

Mercedes and Pirelli will appear before the FIA's International Tribunal in Paris on Thursday morning to answer charges relating to their three-day private tyre test in Barcelona last month. Mercedes were the subject of a protest from Red Bull and Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix after it emerged that the 1000-kilometre test had been run using a 2013 car, in apparent contravention of F1 regulations

Mercedes and tyre supplier Pirelli face disciplinary charges after being accused of breaking rules governing testing.

The organisers of the Indian Grand Prix have denied rumours the race could be at risk next year