Lewis Hamilton’s US GP podium under threat with Brit facing worrying investigation

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are both under investigation from the FIA after a physical floor and plank wear inspection was carried out after the race.

The seven-time world champion executed an immense race at the Circuit of the Americas, climbing from fourth at the end of lap one to finish second on the road behind eventual race winner Max Verstappen.

Leclerc, meanwhile, endured a miserable outing in Texas. The Ferrari star was on pole position after beating his rivals in qualifying on Friday but lost the lead to Lando Norris after getting a poor launch at the start.

The Monegasque driver was then placed on the inferior alternate strategy by Ferrari, who left him out on old hard compound tyres as Leclerc limped across the line in sixth place. 

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However, both of these results are now under threat with Hamilton and Leclerc booked in for trips to the stewards over plank wear investigations. If the pair are found to have breached the technical regulations then they will likely face disqualification.

The technical regulations on this matter dictate: “The thickness of the plank assembly measured normal to the lower surface must be 10mm ± 0.2mm and must be uniform when new. 

“A minimum thickness of 9mm will be accepted due to wear, and conformity to this provision will be checked at the peripheries of the designated holes.”

However, following a post-race investigation, FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed that both cars were “found to not be in compliance” with the article in question. 

Should the two drivers be disqualified from the session this would have some serious ripple effects down the order. Firstly, Norris would inherit P2 with Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz filling the final spot on the podium.

However, possibly the biggest winner would be Logan Sargeant. The Williams driver is still awaiting his first-ever points in F1 and finished in P12 on Sunday, but if both Hamilton and Leclerc are disqualified then he will pick up the first top-ten finish of his career.