US Grand Prix 2023: Drama erupts as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been sensationally disqualified from the US Grand Prix after originally finishing second and sixth respectively.

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) speaks with Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc after the Sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on October 21, 2023 ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix. Hamilton placed second with Leclerc finishing third. (Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP)

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been sensationally disqualified from the United States Grand Prix after failing a post-race technical compliance check.

Both drivers were summoned to meet with the stewards after FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer noted in his post-race report that there was excessive wear to the skid blocks in the middle floor planks of Hamilton’s Mercedes and Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Upon consultation with Mercedes and Ferrari representatives, the stewards ruled to disqualify both drivers.

Hamilton had earlier finished runner-up to Max Verstappen while Leclerc crossed the line in sixth.

Verstappen and third-placed Lando Norris also had their cars inspected after the race but were deemed to be compliant.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed post-race technical compliance checks. Picture: Chandan Khanna/AFP

Both Red Bull and McLaren had raised the ride height of their cars to combat the notoriously bumpy Circuit of the Americas (COTA) track and sat noticeably higher on-track than the Mercedes and Ferraris.

It’s the first time in 22 years a driver has been disqualified for a plank wear violation.

Michael Schumacher, while driving for Benetton, was famously disqualified from the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix for excessive plank wear.

Jordan driver Jarno Trulli was initially disqualified from the 2001 US Grand Prix for the same reason, however the team successfully appealed the decision.

The dual disqualifications of Hamilton and Leclerc completely reshaped the finishing order in Austin, with the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz rising to the podium.

Incredibly, Logan Sargeant – the only American on the grid – earned the first points of his F1 career at his home track, having crossed the line in P12 but rising to 10th.

Hamilton had earlier finished runner-up to Max Verstappen while Leclerc crossed the line in sixth. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

It not only impacted the US Grand Prix results, but also the race for second in the World Drivers’ Championship.

Hamilton had cut the margin to Sergio Perez to just 19 points with three races remaining after the Red Bull driver could only manage fifth across the line in Austin.

However the Hamilton DSQ coupled with the rise to fourth for Perez means he now boasts an almost unassailable advantage over his Mercedes rival.

And that could have a major impact on next season’s driver pairings.

Rumours circulated this week that Red Bull was considering replacing Perez next season if he failed to finish second in the WDC.

Originally published as US Grand Prix 2023: Drama erupts as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified