UNITED STATES: After the conclusion of the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, a post-race inspection has raised questions about the legality of certain cars, as the FIA stewards conducted their routine underfloor plank tests on one car from each of the top four teams.
The scrutiny revealed excessive wear on the planks of two cars, resulting in Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton losing his second-place finish and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc being disqualified from sixth.
Former F1 team manager and journalist Peter Windsor, in his post-race analysis on YouTube, highlighted the significance of the length of the first stints in the race. He posited that the cars’ heavy loads during this phase could have contributed to the elevated wear rates on the planks.
Windsor pointed out that Leclerc and Hamilton both went long in their first stints, with Leclerc completing 23 laps and Hamilton 20 laps, both with a full tank of fuel. He suggested that this extended period of racing under maximum load might have been a factor in the wear and tear observed.
Furthermore, Windsor raised intriguing questions about Red Bull’s strategy, noting their early pit stops for Verstappen and Perez. He speculated whether Red Bull’s decision was based on prior knowledge of potential plank wear issues, seeking to minimize damage during a critical phase of the race.
With half of the cars subjected to the plank test failing, Windsor pondered whether a broader sample might have yielded more disqualifications. He expressed curiosity about how other cars that ran long first stints might have fared in the test.
Windsor also brought up the possibility that Mercedes’ impressive pace throughout the weekend, particularly in the closing stages of the race, may have been influenced by running at a lower ride height for enhanced ground-effect downforce.
The controversy surrounding the plank tests after the US Grand Prix has ignited discussions within the F1 community, prompting reflections on the impact of race strategy and technical compliance on the final results.
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