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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being thrown out of the United States Grand Prix for excessive wear to the planks under their cars is just like the time Michael Schumacher was excluded in 1994, right? Not at all, as Glenn Freeman explains
The disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from the United States Grand Prix for excessive wear to the planks under their cars may seem similar to when Michael Schumacher was excluded from the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix for the same offence, but there are key differences. Both cases involved a lack of meaningful track time, as Mercedes and Ferrari cited the new sprint weekend format as hindering their ability to set their ride heights correctly, just like Benetton faced weather disruptions at Spa in 1994. However, the similarities end there. Mercedes and Ferrari accepted their fate, while Benetton contested their disqualification, offering explanations such as a technical problem after Schumacher’s pitstop and the impact of a spin on a specific kerb. The stewards and officials did not find these arguments convincing, as the wear patterns on Schumacher’s car suggested a different cause – the plank rubbing against the ground during normal circuit driving. Benetton even appealed the decision, but ultimately, their efforts were in vain.
Source: The Race
