Title: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc Disqualified in Austin Race for Excessive Wear on Floor Planks
Word Count: 350 words
In a surprising turn of events, Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari racer Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the recent Austin race due to running cars with excessively worn floor planks. The disqualifications came as a result of post-race scrutineering, a standard procedure in motorsport, which involves checking various components of the cars.
According to the FIA Technical Regulations, the plank assembly on the cars can only wear by 1mm down to 9mm across a weekend. However, both Hamilton and Leclerc failed to meet this criterion. The FIA can single out cars for further inspection based on indicators such as a worn floor or excessive vertical oscillations.
Experts believe that the limited practice time in the sprint format may have played a role in both drivers’ disqualifications. Teams were unable to optimize their cars for the Circuit of the Americas bumps, leaving them vulnerable to potential technical violations. It is important to note that the disqualifications do not suggest a deliberate attempt to dodge the rules but rather an error in individual car setups.
While post-race scrutineering is a crucial process, the FIA faces practical limitations in conducting thorough checks on all cars. This is why not all cars were checked for their floors after the race. However, in this case, Hamilton and Leclerc were caught out due to the severity of their violation.
As for the possibility of an appeal, it is unlikely that the race result will be contested. The technical delegate’s report on the floor checks was issued too late for any protests to be lodged. Although Mercedes and Ferrari could potentially appeal the disqualifications, the clear breach of the technical rules makes a successful appeal unlikely.
In conclusion, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s disqualifications from the Austin race will stand. The incident shed light on the importance of adhering to technical regulations and the challenges faced by the FIA in conducting thorough checks on all cars. With the race result unlikely to be appealed, motorsport fans will eagerly await the next thrilling event to see how the drivers will respond to this setback.
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