Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been excluded from Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix after their respective planks did not comply with the regulations.
Hamilton had finished the race in second, just two seconds behind winner Max Verstappen, while pole starter Charles Leclerc classified sixth.
Post-race checks determined that Hamilton’s W14 and Leclerc’s SF-23 did not comply with the regulations governing plank wear.
“During the hearing the team acknowledged that the measurement performed by the FIA Technical Team was correct and stated that the high wear on the skid pads was probably a result of the unique combination of the bumpy track and the Sprint race schedule that minimized the time to set up and check the car before the race,” read the statement for both drivers.
“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.”
Lando Norris has consequently been promoted to second with Carlos Sainz taking home third.
Elsewhere Sergio Perez moves up to fourth, ahead of Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll now sixth and seventh respectively.
AlphaTauri leaves with a haul of five points following Yuki Tsunoda’s promotion to eighth, having also set the fastest lap, while Williams takes its first double points in over two years.
Alexander Albon slots into ninth while Logan Sargeant becomes America’s first points scorer in 30 years after moving inside the top 10.
This is an example of the depths to which F1 has sunk with its over-regulating. A team runs a brilliant race and is cut out due to a ridiculous rule. There was a time when the teams were allowed to innovate and the thickness of the floor was a question for them to decide, not a rulebook. Things like the halo are one issue, but aside from major safety issues the only things that should be in the rules are maximum width and length of the car and maximum engine displacement.
Let the teams decide issues like tire usage, fueling strategies, and yes, floor thickness.
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