Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have been disqualified from Sunday’s United States Grand Prix after breaching the foundations governing the ground of their vehicles in a shock finish to the race weekend.

Hamilton and Leclerc, who completed second and sixth respectively within the 56-lap race gained by Max Verstappen, have been being investigated by the stewards following a plank put on inspection in Austin.

The unique report from FIA technical delegate Joe Bauer said: “A bodily flooring and a plank put on inspection was carried out on automobile numbers 16 [Leclerc] and 44 [Hamilton].

“The skids positioned on this space are discovered to be not in compliance with Article 3.5.9 e) of the 2023 Formulation One Technical Laws. I’m referring this matter to the stewards for his or her consideration.”

Personnel from each Mercedes and Ferrari have been summoned to see the stewards and, simply after 7pm native time in Austin and greater than three hours after the race completed, their disqualification from the race was confirmed.

Hamilton subsequently loses the 18 factors earned from his second-place end, whereas Leclerc loses eight factors.

Each drivers, nevertheless, do have the best to an enchantment however it’s understood Mercedes won’t enchantment the FIA’s verdict.

In a Mercedes press launch, Hamilton said he was merely “disillusioned” with the penalty, whereas group boss Toto Wolff admitted “we obtained it unsuitable.”

The FIA word reveals that the vehicles of Verstappen and Lando Norris (who now strikes as much as second from third within the closing classification) have been additionally inspected, however handed the checks.

The part of the rulebook referred to reads: “The thickness of the plank meeting measured regular to the decrease floor should be 10mm [plus or minus] 0.2mm and should be uniform when new.

“A minimal thickness of 9mm will likely be accepted on account of put on, and conformity to this provision will likely be checked on the peripheries of the designated holes.”

The ruling means Williams driver Logan Sargeant earns his first F1 level in weird circumstances at his house race.

The ultimate stewards report mentioned: “In the course of the listening to, the group acknowledged that the measurement carried out by the FIA Technical Crew was right and said that the excessive put on on the skid pads was most likely a results of the distinctive mixture of the bumpy observe and the Dash race schedule that minimized the time to arrange and test the automobile earlier than the race.

“The Stewards word that the onus is on the competitor to make sure that the automobile is in compliance with the rules always throughout an occasion.

“On this specific case, the rear skid within the space outlined within the Technical Delegate’s report was exterior of the thresholds outlined in Article 3.5.9 e) of the FIA Formulation One Technical Laws, which features a tolerance for put on.

“Subsequently, the usual penalty for a breach of the Technical Laws is imposed.”

Breaches of technical checks of the automobile typically end in disqualification, with a latest instance being Hamilton from qualifying in Brazil in 2021.

Michael Schumacher was disqualified from the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix for an unlawful flooring, permitting Damon Hill to win the race.

Hamilton was already in scorching water with the FIA for an unrelated matter, after crossing a reside observe on the final race in Qatar and was spoken to once more in Texas on account of his standing as a “position mannequin.”

Leclerc began Sunday’s race on pole however, choosing a distinct technique, fell behind after Norris stole a march on the Ferrari initially.

Hamilton, in the meantime, got here near victory after reeling in Verstappen – who was booed on the rostrum – on the finish.

The 38-year-old has not gained in almost two years, along with his final victory coming in Saudi Arabia in December 2021, however this disqualification will likely be a bitter tablet for the seven-time world champion to swallow forward of the following race, this weekend in Mexico.