F1 News
This is why Hamilton and Leclerc may face disqualification
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc may face disqualification. The cars of Mercedes and Ferrari did not pass the inspection carried out after the race, and so the teams are being taken to the stewards. Here's why the two Formula One drivers may be in trouble.
Disqualification looms for Hamilton and Leclerc
The FIA refers to Article 3.5.9(e) of the Technical Regulations, which reads as follows:
"The thickness of the plank assembly measured normal to the lower surface must be 10mm ± 0.2mm and must be uniform when new. A minimum thickness of 9mm will be accepted due to wear, and conformity to this provision will be checked at the peripheries of the designated holes."
The above rule would not have been met by Hamilton and Leclerc's cars after the United States Grand Prix. The most likely reason is that the plank under the floor showed more wear than allowed in certain areas. One reason could be that the cars were tuned too low in view of the bumpy Circuit of the Americas, which could result in higher-than-expected wear. Teams only had one practice session to determine ride heights.
Major consequences for Hamilton in case of disqualification
In principle, failure to comply with the technical regulations means disqualification. However, both teams will have the chance to tell their story to the FIA, after which the stewards will make a decision. For Hamilton, this would have the biggest impact: it would cause him to lose his second place and lose points instead of gaining them against Sergio Perez.
For Leclerc, it would mean a loss of his sixth place. Moreover, a disqualification for both drivers would mean Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant finishing in the points, and for the latter, it would even be his first point in F1.