What about Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification?
Tyre wear was also a factor in Hamilton’s underbody plank offence. Just as with the weight, the teams will run the cars as close to the ground as possible as that’s where the biggest downforce is produced.
The rear-facing camera from Hamilton’s car showed how the floor was sparking extensively on the back straight even early in the race when the tyre circumferences – and therefore the ride height – would be bigger than later in the race.
But Hamilton was one of just four drivers who did a two-stop race and his final stint was for just 19 laps. This may have saved him from being underweight at the end but it offers less of an excusing explanation for the excessive plank wear.
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There are feasible reasons why the Ferrari may be wearing its plank more than other cars. Visually, the Ferrari appears to be running a slightly higher rear ride height than others when the cars are stationary (i.e. it is very slightly raked).
A crucial part of the SF-25’s concept was moving the cockpit further back from the front axle than on its predecessor, to give better airflow control around the front wheel wake and into the underfloor tunnels.
To accomplish this within only a slightly longer wheelbase, the gearbox casing length was reduced by 5cm. The gearbox sits ahead of the rear axle so the deepest part of the gearbox is now closer to the rear axle than before and therefore rises and lowers more directly to the rear suspension. It will run through a bigger range of ride heights than the old car’s gearbox.
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