Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from the US Grand Prix

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc have been disqualified from the United States Grand Prix for high wear on the plank of their respective machinery.

After a late charge on a troublesome RB19, Hamilton finished the race in second place just two seconds behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. At the same time, Leclerc finished the event in sixth behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Both drivers have been disqualified from the US Grand Prix for excessive wear on the planks.

In the usual post-race procedures, the usual scrutineering checks took place and the FIA technical delegate, Jo Bauer, found that both Hamilton and Leclerc’s cars were not in compliance with the regulations.

In the report, the delegate said:

“A physical floor and a plank wear inspection was carried out on car numbers 16 and 44. The skids located in the area -825 ≥ XR ≥ – 1025 are found to be not in compliance with Article 3.5.9
e) of the 2023 Formula One Technical Regulations.

“I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”

It was quickly found that the two drivers broke the regulations. However, the stewards placed the onus on the teams, they said:

“The Stewards note that the onus is on the competitor to ensure that the car is in compliance with the regulations at all times during an event.

In this particular case, the rear skid in the area defined in the Technical Delegate’s report was outside of the thresholds outlined in Article 3.5.9 e) of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations, which includes a tolerance for wear. Therefore, the standard penalty for a breach of the Technical Regulations is imposed.”

As a result of this Red Bull’s leading world champion, Max Verstappen remains the US GP race winner but McLaren’s Lando Norris moves up to P2 as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz inherits the final podium position.

Perez moves up to fourth which will benefit his championship lead over Hamilton for second place in the standings. Russell, Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) now occupy fifth, sixth and seventh respectively as Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda takes eighth place.

The two Williams of Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant round out the top 10, in ninth and 10th, this result provided Sargeant with his maiden championship points in F1 with a sole point to his name.

That’s all for the article: Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from the US Grand Prix!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Verstappen holds off Hamilton’s late charge to take 50th win in F1 US GP
• US GP: Verstappen secures Sprint Race win with ease with 8s over Hamilton
• US GP: Verstappen pole redemption as top three separated by 0.069s
• US GP: Leclerc gains F1 pole after Verstappen exceeds track limits
• Haas F1 sports new one-off livery for US Grand Prix
• Pirelli to continue as F1 sole tyre provider until 2027

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.