F1 News: Toto Wolff Reacts To Lewis Hamilton Disqualification - "Others Got It Right"

In the wake of Hamilton's unexpected disqualification at Austin, Mercedes' Wolff acknowledges the team's oversight while expressing commitment to rebound in subsequent races.

The United States Grand Prix concluded with an unexpected twist as Lewis Hamilton faced post-race disqualification, stripping him of a seemingly secured second-place finish. In the aftermath, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed the situation candidly, stating that others managed to abide by the regulations where Mercedes faltered.

Key Takeaways:

• Disqualifications were handed to Hamilton and Leclerc for exceeding permitted plank wear on their cars.
• Wolff acknowledges the error, suggesting other teams navigated the challenge successfully.
• Track conditions and the compacted Sprint race schedule may have exacerbated wear issues.

The Circuit of the Americas, known for its thrilling races, added another chapter to its storied history following the surprising disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from their respective finishing positions. As the dust settled on this unexpected outcome, attention shifted to the teams, with questions on how such an oversight could occur.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff didn't shy away from addressing the issue. With characteristic frankness, he noted:

 "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."

Hamilton, meanwhile, took the setback with grace and resilience.

“We had a good pace and I was feeling great in the car. I feel positive as we go forward, even though we thought we could have won today. Of course, it's disappointing to be disqualified after the race, but it doesn't take away from the progress we made this weekend,” he remarked.

Due to the disqualifications, McLaren's Lando Norris advanced to second position, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari climbed to third, and Red Bull's Sergio Perez moved up to fourth. Mercedes' George Russell now rounds out the top five. Gasly, Stroll, Tsunoda, Albon, and newcomer Sargent also benefitted, with the American driver notably clinching his first F1 points, and on home soil. 

The core of the controversy lies in the FIA's regulations surrounding wear on the car’s plank, a measure that ensures both fairness and legality in terms of floor performance. The cars of Hamilton and Leclerc exceeded the allowed wear.

Interestingly, both the challenging conditions of the Austin circuit and the Sprint race weekend format have been spotlighted as potential culprits for the wear discrepancies. Post-race discussions with the Stewards involved representatives from both Mercedes and Ferrari, with a shared sentiment that the “high wear on the skid pads was probably a result of the unique combination of the bumpy track and the Sprint race schedule that minimized the time to set up and check the car before the race.”

An official statement from the Stewards clarified: 

"A physical floor and a plank wear inspection was carried out on car numbers 16 and 44. The skids shown in the area -825> XR >- 1025 are found to be not in compliance with Article 3.5.9."

With the championship battle heating up, the events of this Grand Prix will likely resonate in the coming races. As teams refocus and look ahead, the technical and regulatory challenges of Formula 1 remain ever-present, reminding all of the fine line between success and setback.