The FIA publishes a statement to explain the disputed disqualifications after Austin

The FIA has decided to disqualify two drivers in Austin for a violation regarding the floor wear limits. After the race, four cars were inspected: those of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, deemed non-compliant, and those of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, without apparent infractions. This decision by the Federation has sparked debates and criticism from some Formula 1 fans, who question the fairness of the sanctions.

In the face of doubts expressed by Formula 1 fans, the FIA has made the decision to publish a statement to clarify the situation. The organization firmly asserts its commitment to fairness, despite the criticisms from some enthusiasts. It has reexplained all the procedures and their organization.

The Federation ensures that these tests conducted on the single-seaters comply with the regulations, and each team is aware of the possibility of inspections.

The commissioners are authorized to investigate any area of the vehicle, without notifying the team, in addition to standard analyses carried out on all other cars. All teams and all parts are subject to this type of inspection.

The process of random selection of a certain number of cars for examination after the race is therefore valuable. Each team knows that their selection is possible and understands that the chances of uncovering any non-compliance are high.

It is impossible to verify everything.

The FIA explained that this verification work is extremely time-consuming and it is simply “impossible” for them to check everything after a Grand Prix on all 20 cars.

The completion of these tests requires significant work within the limited time available after the end of a Grand Prix and before the cars are returned to their teams to be dismantled and transported to the next race, explains the statement.

Despite a wide range of controls performed, it is impossible to cover all the parameters of each car within the available time frame, especially during consecutive race weekends where freight delays must also be taken into account.

More in-depth analysis

In its statement, the organization asserts that its objective is to verify the compliance of the cars and to prevent any violation of the regulations. These random checks ensure that all teams are subject to the same rules, without favoritism towards any of them. Commissioners are tasked with assessing the seriousness of the infractions and determining the appropriate sanctions for the teams.

Additional checks are also carried out between qualifications and the race. At least one car is selected for a more detailed analysis of its internal components.

The FIA explains that this control process is constantly evolving to be as precise as possible, using the strictest methods. It is a significant deterrent for the teams, while remaining feasible during each race weekend.

« As with everything in Formula 1, this process has evolved and been refined over the years to become the most rigorous and comprehensive method of monitoring the current F1 cars. It acts as a serious deterrent while being practically achievable within the logistical framework of a Grand Prix weekend.

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The two teams penalized by these tests after the race in Austin have expressed regret without protesting against the regulation. The actors in the paddock are aware of the potential risks they expose themselves to.