Hamilton Claims Decision "Taints" the Sport
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, has expressed his frustration and disappointment after being stripped of second place in last Sunday's US Grand Prix. The controversial ruling, which saw Hamilton and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc disqualified, has left Hamilton feeling that the sport has been "tainted". Hamilton believes that the decision undoes the progress that Formula 1 has made in cracking the American market.
Confusing Ruling Leaves Fans Confused
The disqualification came after measurements on the skid blocks under both Hamilton and Leclerc's cars exceeded the maximum wear limit. The FIA, the sport's governing body, checked only four cars, and two of them failed the test, resulting in instant disqualification. The ruling left fans across the globe confused, as they struggled to understand the decision.
Hamilton Calls for Change and Learning
Hamilton has called for action to be taken to prevent similar situations in the future. He suggests that instead of checking every car, adjustments could be made to the skid or the floor on the Saturday night before the race. This would eliminate the need for a "ridiculous event" following the race. Hamilton believes that the skid blocks, which are used to keep the cars off the ground and provide sparks on TV, have little to no impact on performance.
Other Drivers Support Hamilton's View
Hamilton's teammate, George Russell, admits that the team made a mistake in not making any changes to the skid block after the practice session. Lando Norris, who was promoted to second place following Hamilton's disqualification, also believes that the FIA should have checked all the cars. Norris points out that if one car is illegal, there is a high chance that others may be as well.
It remains to be seen whether Hamilton's calls for change will be heeded by Formula 1 officials. In the meantime, the disqualification has left a bitter taste for Hamilton and his fans.
