In a stunning turn of events at the Circuit of the Americas, Lewis Hamilton's triumphant return to the podium was brutally snatched away after a devastating post-race disqualification that left the Mercedes camp reeling.
The Dream Start That Turned Into a Nightmare
Hamilton had delivered what seemed like a masterclass performance, securing a remarkable second-place finish behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen in Sunday's thrilling United States Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion had fought valiantly throughout the race, appearing to mark a significant turnaround for the struggling Mercedes team.
However, the celebration was short-lived. During post-race scrutineering, officials discovered that the plank under Hamilton's W14 car had worn beyond the legal limit, forcing race stewards to take the drastic action of disqualification.
Technical Trouble Strikes Twice
In a remarkable coincidence, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc suffered the same fate, with his car also failing the crucial plank wear inspection. The double disqualification sent shockwaves through the paddock and completely reshuffled the final race standings.
The technical regulation breach centres on the skid blocks underneath the cars, which must maintain a minimum thickness to prevent teams from running their cars too low to the ground for aerodynamic advantage.
Hamilton's Heartbreak in His Own Words
Speaking before the disqualification was confirmed, Hamilton had already expressed concerns about his car's performance. "It was a terrible race," he admitted. "Very, very loose from the start, and I was having to manage the tyres a lot."
The British racing legend elaborated on his struggles: "It felt like we were a long, long way away from the Red Bulls today. We've got a lot of work to do to close that gap."
Silver Linings Amid the Disappointment
Despite the crushing blow, Hamilton found some positives in his car's upgraded performance. "We moved forwards this weekend, which is positive," he noted, acknowledging the progress made with Mercedes' recent developments.
The dramatic turn of events promoted McLaren's Lando Norris to second place, while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz completed the revised podium. The result deals a significant blow to Hamilton's championship aspirations and Mercedes' constructors' campaign.
What This Means for the Championship
This disqualification represents one of the most significant setbacks of Hamilton's career, coming at a circuit where he's historically performed well. The incident raises serious questions about Mercedes' ability to challenge Red Bull's dominance as the season reaches its climax.
As the F1 circus packs up from Austin, teams and drivers will be conducting thorough reviews of their technical setups to avoid similar fate in the remaining races of the 2024 season.
