Disqualifications and Safety Devices: Mercedes, Ferrari, Hamilton, and Leclerc Explain Mistakes

Engineers from Mercedes and Ferrari attribute their disqualifications at the U.S. Grand Prix to setup mistakes caused by the limited practice time in F1's sprint format. The cars were disqualified for excessive wear to the resin plank fixed to the bottom of their cars, which helps maintain a minimum ride height. The sprint format, with only one hour of practice, made it challenging to make accurate setup decisions. Both teams acknowledged the bumpy surface at the Circuit of the Americas as a contributing factor, along with changes in wind intensity and direction during the race.