Lewis Hamilton has expressed his disappointment after being disqualified from the United States Grand Prix for a technical infringement.
The Mercedes driver had finished second in the race, but his car was found to have a worn plank, which is a violation of the Formula One technical regulations.
Speaking to the media after the race, Hamilton said: “Of course it’s disappointing to be disqualified post-race.”
“We’ve worked really hard all weekend and we thought we had a good race. But the rules are the rules and we have to accept the decision of the stewards.” Hamilton added.
Hamilton’s disqualification promotes Lando Norris to second place and Carlos Sainz to third. It is the first time since the 2020 Italian Grand Prix that Hamilton has been disqualified from a race.
The Mercedes team has said that it will appeal the decision of the stewards, but it is unclear whether the appeal will be successful.
Hamilton’s disqualification is a major blow to his championship hopes. He is now 44 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, with only four races remaining in the season.
“It’s a difficult one to take. But we’ll just have to keep fighting and try to do our best in the remaining races.” Hamilton said.
Hamilton’s disqualification is also a setback for Mercedes in the constructors’ championship. The team is now 40 points behind Red Bull in the standings.
“We’re very disappointed with the decision of the stewards. We believe that the plank wear was within the limits of the regulations.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said.
“However, we respect their decision and we will now focus on appealing the verdict.” Wolff added.
The outcome of the appeal will be crucial for Hamilton’s championship hopes. If the appeal is successful, he will be reinstated in second place in the United States Grand Prix and will close the gap to Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
However, if the appeal is unsuccessful, it will be a major blow to his chances of winning the championship.
