F1 news has been filled with headlines about Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification last weekend – which he believes others were lucky to avoid.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from the US GP last weekend – following post-race inspections. Their planks had been worn and were below the minimum clearance permitted by the FIA. As a result, both drivers lost their points finishes.
To add to the controversy, only four drivers were checked for this element post-race. This has sparked debate regarding how this procedure is carried out – and why other drivers were not also inspected. After all, 2/4 drivers that were assessed by the FIA were in breach of the rule.s
It stands to reason that others could have been disqualified. Largely, these rule breaches were a consequence of the F1 sprint weekend. With teams only given one practice session to adjust their set-ups, mistakes are more likely. At a track like COTA, which is extremely bumpy and demanding on the cars, these errors are punished.
Hamilton: Others were lucky to avoid punishment
Speaking to the media in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton argued that others were lucky to avoid penalties post-race:
“Basically, that was the first time we’d had a Sprint race there [in COTA]. They had only tested a few cars, and 50% of them got disqualified,” he told Sky Sports.
“There are far more driver’s cars that were illegal.
“The skid is not a performance element. Of course, if you have a flat surface, everyone is going to be pushing their car to be as low as possible.
“But it’s mostly some cars handle the bumps better than others, and you know we have had a very stiff and bumpy car for the last two years.
“But ultimately, it failed the regulation, and that needs to change…
“I’ve heard from several different sources that there were a lot of other cars that were also illegal, but they weren’t tested so they got away with it,” he explained to the media in Mexico.
Frustrating outcome for Hamilton
Ultimately, it is the FIA’s role to enforce the rules of the sport – so disqualifying illegal cars is their prerogative. However, moving forward, it is worth discussing whether more comprehensive checks can be made if several cars breach the same area.
Generally, F1 teams avoid overstepping the mark. In this sense, last weekend was an anomaly. In any case, for the sake of clarity and avoiding further controversy, this procedure can be looked at.
Returning to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, it is a shame that their admirable efforts in COTA amounted to zero points. However, this weekend is another chance for the team to assess the W14’s latest updates and compare their performance relative to Red Bull.
