A dramatic turn of events at the United States Grand Prix shook up the final race standings as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified after their Mercedes and Ferrari cars failed a critical floor and plank wear inspection.
The inspection found that the skids on the bottom of their cars, which ensure a minimum ground clearance for Formula 1 vehicles, had worn down beyond the limits defined by F1 regulations. Consequently, both Hamilton and Leclerc were excluded from the final results. Follow your favourite F1 team with attractive F1 betting odds from Nextbet.
The disqualifications redefined the race results, with McLaren’s Lando Norris elevated to second place behind race-winner Max Verstappen. Another Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, secured a place on the podium.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff reflected on the challenges of setting up the cars for a sprint weekend, especially on the bumpy Circuit of the Americas (COTA). He acknowledged the team’s missteps and the need to learn from the experience.
Hamilton expressed his disappointment in a post-race statement, saying, “It is, of course, disappointing to be disqualified post-race, but that doesn’t take away from the progress we’ve made this weekend.”
Williams’ Logan Sargeant also experienced an unexpected boost in the standings, earning his first point of his rookie F1 campaign after being promoted to 10th. Both Williams drivers scored, and Alex Albon moved up to ninth.
The decision to disqualify Hamilton and Leclerc was attributed to the unique challenges posed by the bumpy track at COTA and the tight schedule of the Sprint race. Both teams have the option to appeal the ruling, but initial indications from their official social media accounts suggest an acceptance of the decisions.
For Hamilton, the disqualification dealt a significant blow to his pursuit of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings. The Mexican driver was promoted from fifth to fourth due to the disqualifications, extending his lead over Hamilton from 19 to 39 points heading into the final four rounds of the season.
The United States Grand Prix final result now stands as follows:
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Lando Norris, McLaren
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
7) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
8) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
9) Alex Albon, Williams
10) Logan Sargeant, Williams
The disqualifications have set the stage for an intense final stretch of the Formula 1 season, with the drivers’ and constructors’ championships hanging in the balance. Get the latest updates from the world of F1 only on Nextbet Sports.
