Lewis Hamilton disqualified from Sao Paulo GP qualifying for illegal rear wing

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Lewis Hamilton has been disqualified from qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for a breach of F1’s technical regulations.

Hamilton beat title rival Max Verstappen to the quickest time in qualifying but will now start Saturday’s sprint race from last.

After Friday’s qualifying session, Hamilton’s car was referred to the stewards for an alleged breach of the regulations around his rear wing.

To be deemed legal, an F1 car’s drag reduction system overtaking aid may not open by more than 85 millimeters when operated by the driver.

On Saturday afternoon, the stewards said: “Hamilton’s car could not fulfill the requirement of a maximum 85 millimeter measurement,” referring to the DRS’s maximum opening at either end of the wing.

The decision will have a huge impact on the championship. Hamilton already trails Verstappen by 19 points with four races left.

Hamilton also faces a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after an engine change made by Mercedes ahead of the weekend, meaning he faces the prospect of not scoring points in the sprint race, which only awards points to the top three drivers, and then moving five places back on Sunday’s grid from wherever he finishes on Saturday.

By contrast, Verstappen looks well placed to win both the sprint race and Sunday’s grand prix, which would move him to the verge of a first career championship.

The Hamilton disqualification concluded a dramatic period of intrigue and speculation that started on Friday evening, as Verstappen had also been asked to visit the stewards on Saturday morning after a fan video emerged of him inspecting and touching the same part of Hamilton’s car that was called into question.

Shortly before Hamilton’s disqualification was confirmed, Verstappen was fined €50,000 for breaching parc fermé regulations. Crucially, as there had been some speculation that Verstappen might have compromised that part of Hamilton’s car by touching it, the stewards said “no direct harm” had been caused…