Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could lose their results in today’s United States Grand Prix as both their cars have failed a post-race check.
The FIA Formula 1 technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed their cars were found not to be in compliance with the technical regulations.The Mercedes and Ferrari violated article 3.5.9 (e) which states the mandatory plank fitted to the underside of their cars must not wear below a minimum thickness of 9mm.
Bauer has referred the matter to the stewards for judgement. Hamilton finished the race in second place, Leclerc sixth. As violations of the technical regulations tend to result in disqualification, both drivers and teams stand to lose their finishing positions and championship points gained.
The Circuit of the Americas is one of the bumpiest tracks on the F1 calendar and has been patched and resurfaced in many places over the years. Nonetheless several F1 drivers observed its surface had worsened in places since last year. The extent of the bumps is likely to have contributed to the difficulty the two teams experienced in keeping their plank wear under control.
All cars are checked for compliance with the technical regulations following races, though different tests are sometimes carrier out on different cars. The document issued by the FIA made no mention of any other drivers’ cars failing the check, including those of Hamilton and Leclerc’s team mates. Carlos Sainz Jnr and George Russell finished fourth and seventh respectively.
The FIA tightened up the enforcement of its rules regarding plank wear during last season following the introduction of its new technical regulations.
Update: Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from US GP, Sargeant scores first F1 point
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2023 United States Grand Prix
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MichaelN
22nd October 2023, 23:43
Excessive plank wear has, as far as I remember anyway – it doesn’t happen that often, always been an instant DSQ.
Unfortunate for Hamilton if true, but them’s the rules.
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd October 2023, 23:53
Yeah, it has indeed.
Billy Rae Flop
23rd October 2023, 6:00
Rules may be rules but if all cars planks aren’t checked in the same places before giving these two penalties, what’s the point? Especially when it’s likely a track related issue
Gubstar
23rd October 2023, 14:15
Its a bit like the random weighbridge call up. its a random check
Ben
22nd October 2023, 23:45
Ah such a shame to lose a great result but ultimately I don’t think it matters. Points are meaningless and he’s already celebrated the podium. Glad he didn’t win now!
BasCB (@bascb)
22nd October 2023, 23:53
Ha, good point there!
Robert Henning
22nd October 2023, 23:52
Oh well probably ran the car too low for performance. Maybe should have lifted from the ground like RB.
SteveP
23rd October 2023, 20:08
Maybe should have a suspension like RB.
I presume you follow the technical analyses that have been done on the RBR vs. other cars?
Skett
23rd October 2023, 0:24
On the plus side it could mean that sargeant gets his first point
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
23rd October 2023, 0:26
That whole circuit is built on some sort of drained out swamp I think, they should have some concrete underneath the tarmac to keep the road from deforming. Looks like its just fairly thick asphalt though.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
23rd October 2023, 1:12
I’m surprised by this as I can’t recall any previous cases like this. I did wonder if the Stewards even checked the plank underneath the car to see if it was worn. For example, we see some races where the drivers straddle the curbing, yet no one says anything about the potential for damage to that plank. In fact I’m sure I’d seen what looked like wood scrape marks on a curb or such like earlier this year, yet nothing appeared in the press. Anyway, I guess we wait and see.
David
23rd October 2023, 1:33
Schumacher at Spa 95?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
23rd October 2023, 3:36
That’s 94, 1995 was the famous duel on the rain on slick tyres vs hill!
Red Andy (@red-andy)
23rd October 2023, 8:49
I think on that occasion Schumacher damaged his plank when he went off the track – to my recollection neither Hamilton nor Leclerc had any significant off-track moments that could have contributed to higher-than-expected plank wear. Seems like they just ran their cars too low for the conditions.
David
23rd October 2023, 2:05
Surprised they even run the planks anymore, now ground effect is allowed again. Wasn’t the plank supposed to be a temporary fix, like DRS…
AlanD
23rd October 2023, 2:57
David, yes, you are quite right, it was introduced after the fatal accident to Roland Ratzenberger in 1994. The cars ran so close to the ground that any incident causing the car to lift slightly led to a loss of all downforce and the cars became airborne missiles. The plank was an emergency solution to force teams to run the cars higher, and I think in that first race, it was quite literally a job lot of chipboard planks which the teams were told to bolt onto the cars.
What has puzzled me with today’s exclusions is that I don’t recall seeing any sparking from any of the cars. Normally on high wear tracks, the titanium skid blocks on the front edge of the plank are seen sparking, so I wondered if teams were getting wear on unusual area of the plank.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
23rd October 2023, 2:12
Sadly now confirmed.
Of course, the lower ride heights may have aided performance, but I don’t believe it would have changed the outcome significantly (just an opinion, of course), so a big shame for those two.
GmP (@gmp)
23rd October 2023, 3:04
“May have”? Ride height is a very important part of the performance, why do you think they have the planks and these rules? Every team tries to go as low as they can. Unfortunately for Ham and Lec their setup went a little too far low.
Billy Rae Flop
23rd October 2023, 6:01
Rules may be rules but if all cars planks aren’t checked in the same places before giving these two penalties, what’s the point? Especially when it’s likely a track related issue
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
23rd October 2023, 2:57
On a complete tangent…. This article is the fourth of four sequential articles starting with the word ‘Hamilton’!!!
(I know that the order sometimes changes, but this is as it stands at the moment).