The United States Grand Prix was a dramatic race that saw two of the top drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, disqualified from the results due to a technical breach. The skid blocks on their cars were found to be excessively worn, which could give them an aerodynamic advantage. This handed the victory to Max Verstappen, who also claimed the fastest lap and increased his lead over Hamilton in the championship standings.
What are skid blocks and why are they important?
Skid blocks are metal plates attached to the underside of the car, which protect the floor from scraping the ground. They also limit the ride height of the car, which affects the airflow and downforce. The skid blocks have a minimum thickness of 5 mm, and if they are worn down below that limit, the car is deemed illegal and disqualified from the race.
The skid blocks are measured after each session, and both Hamilton and Leclerc passed the checks after qualifying. However, after the race, their skid blocks were found to be below the minimum thickness by 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm respectively. This could be due to various factors, such as track conditions, driving style, or damage during the race.
Both Mercedes and Ferrari protested the disqualifications, arguing that the wear was within the normal range and did not affect the performance of the cars. However, the stewards rejected their appeals and confirmed the penalties.
How did this affect the race outcome and the championship battle?
The disqualifications of Hamilton and Leclerc promoted Lando Norris to second place and Fernando Alonso to third place, giving McLaren and Aston Martin their second podiums of the season. It also meant that Verstappen scored 26 points (25 for winning and 1 for fastest lap), while Hamilton scored zero. This increased Verstappen’s lead over Hamilton in the drivers’ championship from 12 points to 38 points with six races remaining.
Verstappen had a flawless race, starting from pole position and leading every lap except for one during the pit stops. He also set the fastest lap on the final lap of the race, denying Hamilton the extra point. Hamilton had a strong race as well, starting from fifth place due to a grid penalty and fighting his way up to second place before being disqualified. Leclerc had a solid race too, starting from third place and finishing sixth before being disqualified.
The disqualifications also affected the constructors’ championship, where Red Bull extended their lead over Mercedes from 33 points to 59 points. Ferrari lost ground to McLaren in the battle for third place, while Aston Martin moved up to fifth place ahead of Alpine.
What’s next for F1?
The next race will be the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29th, where Verstappen will aim to continue his momentum and Hamilton will try to bounce back. Mexico is a high-altitude circuit that favors Red Bull’s engine performance, but Mercedes will not give up easily. It will be another exciting showdown between the two title rivals, who have been involved in several incidents and controversies this season.
F1 fans can also look forward to more news and analysis from various sources, as well as live timing data and fantasy games. F1 is also expanding its global reach with new races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi later this year.