“Controversial Disqualifications Rock US Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc Caught in the Storm”

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc Disqualified from US GP: Mercedes will ‘Learn’ from Rules Breach

Background

After a dramatic race at the United States Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from their respective second and sixth-place finishes due to a technical infringement on their cars. The issue was related to wear levels on the planks underneath their cars, which violated the limits set out in Formula 1 regulations. Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, expressed disappointment over losing their podium finish.

The Sprint Format and Technical Infringements

Mercedes attributed the technical infringement to the specific challenges posed by the sprint format. With only a solitary hour of running before parc ferme, teams face limitations on setup time. The rough and bumpy Circuit of the Americas also contributed to the wear levels on the planks. Mercedes recognized the need to learn from this incident and acknowledged the positives from the overall experience.

The Plank Underneath F1 Cars

F1 cars have a plank on the underside of the chassis as a safety measure to regulate ride height and prevent cars from running too close to the ground. While the term “plank” may evoke the image of wood, F1 planks are made of a complex structure featuring glass-reinforced resin. The regulations mandate that the thickness of the plank assembly must be 10mm ± 0.2mm when new, with a minimum thickness of 9mm allowed due to wear. Mercedes and Ferrari exceeded this wear limit, leading to their disqualification.

Scrutineering Process and Checks

The issues with Hamilton and Leclerc’s cars came to light during the regular post-race scrutineering conducted by the FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer. While some checks are carried out on all classified finishing cars, such as weight, fuel-flow meters, and tires, others are random and focus on specific areas. In this case, four cars were inspected for physical floor and plank wear, with Verstappen’s Red Bull and Norris’ McLaren passing, while the Mercedes and Ferrari were found non-compliant.

Mitigating Circumstances and Punishment

While the performance advantage gained from plank wear cannot be quantified, the FIA operates under a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of technical regulations. Even if there are mitigating circumstances, disqualification from the results is the expected outcome. Mercedes and Ferrari did not intend to break the rules but were caught out by the challenges posed by the sprint format and the rough track conditions. Both teams have accepted the decision and are not appealing.

Editorial and Analysis

The disqualification of Hamilton and Leclerc from the US GP has significant implications for both the drivers’ and constructor’s championships. For Hamilton, this means a 20-point swing in favor of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, effectively reducing his chances of overtaking Perez in the remaining four races of the season. In the constructor’s championship, Ferrari’s higher point haul from the Austin weekend puts pressure on Mercedes, reducing their deficit to 22 points.

The disqualifications also had an impact on Lando Norris, who inherited second place from Hamilton. This result, combined with Leclerc’s loss of points, propelled Norris ahead of the Ferrari driver in the championship standings. Norris now finds himself in the top six and only 24 points behind fourth-placed Fernando Alonso.

Williams and AlphaTauri emerged as the unexpected winners of the disqualifications. Williams gained three points, which may seem small but constitutes 12% of their total season points. Additionally, the result gives Logan Sargeant, who scored his first F1 point in 10th place, a morale boost since he is currently without a contract for 2024. AlphaTauri also doubled their season points, providing renewed hope of climbing out of the bottom of the table over the final four races.

Advice and Recommendations

The disqualifications serve as a reminder to all teams in Formula 1 of the importance of adhering to technical regulations. Given the zero-tolerance approach of the FIA, teams must ensure that their cars comply with all specifications and limits set out in the rulebook. It is crucial for teams to fully understand the unique challenges posed by specific circuits and race formats to avoid breaching regulations.

This incident also highlights the need for teams to continually learn and adapt. The sprint format requires teams to make quick setup decisions, which can be challenging. Finding a balance between performance and compliance with regulations is crucial. Teams must take into account the factors that contributed to the wear levels on the planks and adjust their strategies accordingly to avoid similar issues in the future.

Furthermore, the FIA should consider reviewing the scrutineering process to ensure that random checks on certain areas detect potential technical infringements. While it may be impractical to test every aspect of every car, expanding testing to include more cars when non-compliance is found could help maintain fairness and transparency in the sport.

Overall, the disqualifications of Hamilton and Leclerc serve as a reminder of the importance of technical compliance in Formula 1 and highlight the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in a sport where success hinges on finding the right balance between performance and adherence to regulations.