AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 21: Second placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes talks with Third placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari in parc ferme after the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 21, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
(Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc Disqualified at COTA

After the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas had ended on Sunday, the cars driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified.

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When the checkered flag waved at the conclusion of the race, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen scored his 50th career win in F1. Hamilton finished second for Mercedes and Lando Norris rounded out the podium in third position for McLaren.

During post-race inspections, the FIA found that the cars driven by Hamilton and Leclerc had their car planks excessively worn down.

Both cars violated Article (3.5.9 e) of the 2023 Formula 1 technical regulations. "The thickness of the plank assembly measured normal to the lower surface must be 10mm and must be uniform when new."

"A minimum thickness of 9mm will be accepted due to wear, and conformity to this provision will be checked at the peripheries of the designated holes."

Due to this infraction, both cars were disqualified from the event.

As a result of Hamilton and Leclerc's disqualifications, Norris moved into the second finishing position, and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz moved from fourth to third.

The disqualifications also benefitted both Williams Racing. Alex Albon moved from 11th to ninth, and Logan Sargeant moved from 12th to 10th, marking the first time this season that both Williams drivers scored points in the same Grand Prix. Additionally, Sargeant scored his first-ever point in F1, becoming the first American to score points in an F1 race since Michael Andretti placed third in the 1993 Italian Grand Prix.

As a result of lost points due to the disqualification, Leclerc lost sixth position in the drivers' championship to Norris.

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