US GP: Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen disqualified
And Haas' Grosjean is given a three-place grid penalty for Mexico
Tuesday 4 December 2018 16:16, UK
Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen have been disqualified from the US GP with Brendon Hartley and Marcus Ericsson promoted into the points at their expense.
Force India's Ocon crossed the line in eighth but the stewards charged the team with exceeding the sport's fuel-flow rate on the race's opening lap.
Magnussen, meanwhile, finished ninth but his Haas car was found to have consumed more than the maximum fuel allowed.
'Unfortunately today we were racing in Formula Fuelsaving rather than Formula 1,' tweeted Magnussen. 'And we used 0.1kg (!) too much for the whole race so we got disqualified. Those are the rules so we just have to manage better.'
Haas described the penalty as 'incredibly unfortunate'.
The exclusions have hurt both teams in the Constructors' Championship. Haas are now 22 points behind Renault in the fight for fourth, while Force India drop an extra point behind McLaren in the battle for sixth.
Representatives from both teams were summoned to the stewards on Sunday evening in Austin.
Speaking to reporters, FIA race director Charlie Whiting confirmed that the Force India exceeded the 100kg/h fuel flow rate for the "majority" of the race's first lap, while Magnussen's Haas exceed the 105kg race fuel limit on the final lap.
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As a result of Ocon and Magnussen's exclusions, Hartley has been classified ninth and Ericsson tenth, with Sergio Perez promoted to eighth.
Hartley's frustration comes to the surface
Speaking to Sky F1 prior to his promotion, Hartley's frustration boiled over as the New Zealander reacted angrily to the latest wave of speculation about his future.
"I've felt good in the last few races, but obviously l have to answer questions about my future every week which is getting increasingly annoying," he said. "I've read in the media that l have to beat my team-mate. I was ahead of him in Singapore before team orders, l was ahead in Russia before the car broke down, I was ahead at Suzuka in qualifying and l was ahead today. So let's see what happens."
Grosjean given Mexico grid penalty
In a busy-post race for US GP stewards, the other Haas driver of Romain Grosjean was given a three-place grid penalty for next Sunday's race in Mexico after colliding with Charles Leclerc on the Austin race's chaotic first lap.
Grosjean also had another penalty point added to his superlicence, meaning he is now just two away from an automatic race ban.
'Video evidence showed that entering turn 12 Car 8 locked tyres and made contact with Car 16,' said the stewards.
'As a result of the incident, both cars suffered damage and Car 8 [Grosjean] had to retire. The Stewards noted that Car 8 lifted and braked early because of the positions of the cars in front, but nevertheless Car 8 made contact with Car 16.
'The Stewards awarded just 1 penalty point in recognition of the circumstances.'
Up to 10 penalty points out of a maximum 12 for a 12-month period, Grosjean will now walk a disciplinary tightrope at the next race. One point will be dropped the day after the Mexico race and then two more the day after the Brazilian GP.
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