The Formula 1 Austin Grand Prix provided high-speed drama both on and off the track, culminating in the post-race disqualification of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from their respective second and fifth positions. The disqualifications stemmed from technical infringements related to excessive plank wear on their car floors.
In a shocking turn of events, the post-race disqualifications reshuffled the race standings, promoting McLaren’s Lando Norris to second place and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to third. Sergio Perez, embroiled in a fierce battle for second place in the championship standings with Hamilton, secured the fourth spot, while George Russell, Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate, moved up to fifth. The ruling also had a ripple effect, benefiting Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, and newcomer Logan Sargent, who earned his first-ever F1 points.
Despite the disappointment of losing a second-place finish, Hamilton remained optimistic and acknowledged the progress his team had made throughout the weekend. He commented, “We had a good pace, and I was feeling great in the car. I feel positive as we go forward, even though we thought we could have won today. Of course, it’s disappointing to be disqualified after the race, but it doesn’t take away from the progress we made this weekend.”
The technical reasons behind the disqualifications were rooted in the FIA’s regulations, which set specific tolerance levels for wear on the car’s plank, a crucial measure to ensure fairness in floor legality and performance. Both Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s cars were found to be outside this established tolerance.
Unique challenges presented by the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, combined with the constraints of a Sprint race weekend, were cited by teams as potential contributors to the excessive wear. Representatives from Mercedes and Ferrari engaged in discussions with the race Stewards post-race, reaching a consensus that the “high wear on the skid pads was probably a result of the unique combination of the bumpy track and the Sprint race schedule that minimized the time available for car setup and checks before the race.”
In an official statement from the Stewards, it was clarified that “A physical floor and a plank wear inspection was carried out on car numbers 16 and 44. The skids shown in the area were found to be not in compliance with Article 3.5.9.”
The unexpected turn of events added a unique layer of drama to the Austin Grand Prix and emphasized the fine margins and technical intricacies that shape Formula 1 racing.
