Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Lewis Hamilton disqualified from 2nd place at U.S. Grand Prix after post-race inspection of car

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, celebrates on the podium in front of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, after the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, celebrates on the podium in front of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, after the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Share
AUSTIN, Texas -

Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the Formula One United States Grand Prix hours after his second place finish to Max Verstappen when race officials found a technical rules violation with the skid block under his car.

The decision wiped out Hamilton's best finish in months and comes just as Mercedes showed some new life and new pace in a season dominated by Verstappen and his Red Bull car. Hamilton had chased Verstappen to within 2.2 seconds of the winner at the finish line and may have caught if given a few extra laps.

"It is of course disappointing to be disqualified post-race but that doesn't take away from the progress we've made this weekend," Hamilton said.

The problem came in the post-race inspection when race stewards inspected the skid block. The wood resin block, or "plank" under the car is used to ensure teams follow the rules of how close they run the cars to the ground in search of better speed and performance.

It can also be considered a safety issue. And if the skid block is found to have been reduced by more than 1 millimetre, the car and driver are disqualified.

Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished sixth, were both disqualified. Verstappen's car was also inspected and passed.

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff noted the bumpy conditions at the Circuit of the Americas that Hamilton and Verstappen said should be fixed, and the lack of car set-up time by teams on a sprint race weekend.

The disqualification announcement from race officials noted the Mercedes team argued the same issues with them in hopes of mitigating any penalty.

"The Stewards note that the onus is on the competitor to ensure that the car is in compliance with the regulations at all times during an event," race officials said.

Wolff said Mercedes would not appeal the decision.

"Others got it right where we got it wrong and there's no wiggle room in the rules. We need to take it on the chin, do the learning, and come back stronger next weekend," Wolff said.

Hamilton's disqualification moved McLaren's Lando Norris from third to second. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz moved up one place to third.

Another benefactor of the disqualification was Williams driver Logan Sargeant. He moved up from 12th to 10th to earn his first point of the season.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Scammers are increasingly using emails to extort money from victims by threatening to reveal compromising photos, videos and personal information to their friends and family members, according to a new warning from Mounties in Metro Vancouver.

An Air Canada flight headed to Toronto from Frankfurt diverted to Edinburgh due to an emergency Thursday, the airline says.

BREAKING

BREAKING

Canadian singer K’naan has been charged with sexual assault after being arrested by police in Quebec City.

WATCH LIVE

WATCH LIVE Helene's winds batter Florida as Category 3 storm races toward the coast

Tropical storm force winds began battering Florida on Thursday as Hurricane Helene prepared to make landfall, with forecasters warning that the enormous storm could create a "nightmare" surge along the coast and churn up damaging winds hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S.

An NDP MP has introduced a bill that would criminalize residential school denialism, saying it would help stop harm caused toward survivors, their families and communities.

Vancouver police blocked traffic and the SkyTrain's Millennium Line suspended service to VCC-Clark Station due to an "unstable crane" in the area Thursday.

Local Spotlight

Sarah McLachlan is returning to her hometown of Halifax in November.

Wayne MacKay is still playing basketball twice at Mount Allison University at 87 years old.

A man from a small rural Alberta town is making music that makes people laugh.

An Indigenous artist has a buyer-beware warning ahead of Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Police are looking to the public for help after thieves broke into a Lethbridge ice creamery, stealing from the store.

An ordinary day on the job delivering mail in East Elmwood quickly turned dramatic for Canada Post letter carrier Jared Plourde. A woman on his route was calling out in distress.

Fire has destroyed a barn and 17,000 plants at a family-owned business in Lower Coverdale, N.B.

Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

Stay Connected