Both Haas Formula 1 drivers have been disqualified from the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session over a transgression relating to the car’s rear wing.
Hulkenberg and Magnussen progressed out of Q1, securing a double Q2 appearance for the American squad, with the former 12th and the latter three spots back.
However, post-session it transpired that the FIA’s technical delegate Jo Bauer had passed information onto the stewards that Haas failed the DRS opening check.
“The uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions were checked on car numbers 20 and 27,” the FIA technical delegate’s report began.
“The LHS and RHS outermost area of the adjustable elements were exceeding the maximum allowed 85mm on both cars.
“As this is not in compliance with TR Article 3.10.10 h), I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
The rules state that the outer ends of the movable elements of the wing must not exceed 85mm, but both the Haas cars exceeded this on both ends upon a check.
Following the stewards’ review of the matter, Haas was found guilty of breaching DRS compliance and the Saturday efforts have been struck from the record books.
“The team explained that this was the consequence of an inadvertent error on their part in setting the wing flap gap,” the stewards explained.
“The wing used was a new design that was used for the first time in Monaco.
“The old design was set to be compliant with the regulations with the largest gap measured from the centre of the wing.
“Under the new design, the largest gap was at the extremities of the wing but the team had not trained its mechanics to set the gap per the new design, resulting in the non-compliance.
“The wing was otherwise compliant with the technical regulations and the FIA technical team confirmed that they were satisfied with the team’s explanation for the error.”
Haas now faces an uphill battle to get anything out of the Monaco GP weekend from the back of the grid, with overtaking nigh-on impossible around the Monaco streets.
The double disqualification promotes RB’s Daniel Ricciardo to 12th, along with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who qualified 14th, and Fernando Alonso, who went out in Q1.
Meanwhile, Logan Sargeant’s Williams and Sergio Perez’s Red Bull both get slight reprieves, while the Sauber pair will be promoted from the back row of the starting grid.
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