Breaking: Hamilton suffers huge qualifying setback as FIA issues….read more
Hamilton suffers huge qualifying setback as FIA issues….read more
Lewis Hamilton experienced a significant setback during the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, exiting early during Saturday’s qualifying session. The disappointment deepened after the FIA disqualified Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc from the race due to excessive wear on the wooden planks under their cars, a violation of F1’s strict technical regulations.
The FIA clarified that Hamilton’s Mercedes and Leclerc’s Ferrari did not comply with the rule requiring the underfloor plank to maintain a minimum thickness of 9mm. This rule exists to ensure the cars adhere to ground effect regulations. Only four cars were randomly selected for this post-race inspection, and two, including Hamilton’s, were found in breach, leading to disqualification. Mercedes acknowledged that the unusually bumpy Circuit of the Americas track contributed to the issue, and no appeals have been made.
This development means Hamilton’s slim chance of challenging Red Bull’s Sergio Perez for second place in the drivers’ championship has become even more difficult, with Perez now holding a 39-point lead over Hamilton. Despite the setback, Mercedes hopes to learn from this experience and fine-tune their strategies for the remaining races.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, commented on recent FIA-enforced changes to Red Bull’s machinery, which affected aerodynamics, as McLaren continues to push for competitive results. Amid the technical challenges, Sky Sports also faced a significant technical issue during their live broadcast from Austin, adding to the drama of an already eventful race weekend.
About The Author
