Max Verstappen’s Compromise to Avoid Disqualification Prompted Lewis Hamilton to Reduce Gap Against World Champion in Austin

Mercedes closed the gap on Max Verstappen and the team in the 19th race of the 2023 season. The German team accomplished this by adding new floor enhancements to their W-14. As a result of this, Lewis Hamilton finished 2.2 seconds behind three-time champion Max Verstappen in Texas. Initially, Mercedes attributed the upgrades to an important factor in reducing the enormous gap with the Milton Keynes side. However, according to a video published by Race, the reality is exactly the opposite.

Red Bull altered the ride height of their RB19 for the USGP. Milton Keynes had supposedly raised its riding heights, forcing the team to lose some aero efficiency. This mostly prompted the RB19 to run a larger rear wing, which, together with other factors, reduced some of its long-standing performance edge.

According to the video, “On the subject of Red Bull, it’s worth understanding that the right height compromise was one of several reasons, contributing to Verstappen winning by only 2.2 seconds at the checkered flag.” Later, the narrator elaborated on how Versatppen’s natural driving style caused him to suffer. He said, “As he braked conservatively because of that, he began losing the front tire temperature, causing a vicious circle as it increased the likelihood of locking the fronts.”

Though Lewis Hamilton finished second, what happened next was heartbreaking for him and the team. Due to the unlawful plank measurement, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the race.  However, they were not the only ones investigated; both Max Verstappen’s and Lando Norris’s cars were also examined.

Unlike the Mercedes and Ferrari vehicles, the two closest friends remained free of violations. Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time this year that the Dutchman has been inspected or garnered the attention of stewards.

When was the last time Max Verstappen was investigated by the stewards?

Max Verstappen struggled at the Singapore Grand Prix after dominating the circuit for ten races in a row. At the Marina Bay circuit, the three-time champion was questioned for impeding Mercedes, Alpha Tauri, and Williams. Interestingly, despite his three impediments, he received no serious consequences and was handed over a $5200 fine for obstructing Yuki Tsunoda. Until now, we all had only heard about Verstappen’s reprimands in Singapore.

However, a recent video by Race revealed how the Dutchman, along with Fernando Alonso, was involved in the FIA’s plank examination at the Singapore Grand Prix.

The narrator went on to note that, while the floor and planks aren’t always on the FIA’s to-do list, the authorities are required to investigate technical breaches on some of the unique courses. And, after describing the latest physical fault and plank inspection that occurred at the Singapore Grand Prix on two cars, the narrator adds curiosity as to why these inspections are only performed at select tracks. The video’s presenter stated, “No cars had this check in Japan or Qatar, presumably because of the risk of plank which was perceived to be a lot lower. And that is because circumstances also play a part in what the FIA looks at and when.”

However, returning to the present scenario, Lewis Hamilton has raised his voice as the FIA severely fined him and took his P2. According to Hamilton, there were additional unchecked cars that, if investigated, could have been illegal as well. Nevertheless, in response, ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle stated that the FIA did exactly the right thing. Given that, in accordance with the FIA’s long-standing quick spot check policy, only the top cars are scrutinized, saving critical time because checking every car would take forever.