The FiA – Formula One’s governing organization – disqualified the Mercedes car of seven-time defending F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton from yesterday’s qualifying session after it was found to have failed a rear wing test. Hamilton will now be forced to start from the back of the grid in today’s sprint race qualifier which is being used to determine the grid for tomorrow’s 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, where Hamilton was already set to receive a five-place grid penalty for adding an extra engine component past the allowed allotment for the season.
Earlier, the FiA handed down a $57,212 fine to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after he was caught on video touching the rear wing of both his car and Hamilton’s car after the sprint race qualifier – a breach of the FIA’s International Sporting Code concerning rules touching the cars after qualifying.