Following the usual post checks qualifications of the Monaco GP both Haas were found to be irregular, making disqualification inevitable. The stewards in fact found an irregularity in the opening of the drag reduction system (DRS) on the rear wings of the two VF-24s. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen had qualified in twelfth and fifteenth position respectively. The two will start from Pit Lane. Let's see what this disqualification means on the starting grid, considering that the two Haas drivers had qualified for Q2.
The commissioners' decision and the reasons for the disqualification
Haas brought a new rear wing to Munich. This is precisely what ended up under the watchful eye of the FIA. At the end of qualifying the VF-24s of Magnussen and Hulkenberg were examined. At the end of these examinations the FIA then issued a note from FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer stating that: “The adjustable positions of the highest rear wing element were checked on cars number 20 [Magnussen] and 27 [Hulkenberg ]. The outermost area [left side] and [right side] of the adjustable elements exceeded the maximum allowed of 85 mm on both cars. As this does not comply with Article 3.10.10 h of the [Technical Regulations], I refer the matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
The stewards subsequently called Haas for a meeting to clarify the matter. However, the situation immediately left little doubt. In fact, there was also a precedent with Lewis Hamilton, who after the checks following the Sprint Qualifying of the 2021 Brazilian GP on his Mercedes, which was found to be irregular, was forced to start from last place in the standings, effectively depriving him of Pole.
The stewards then determined, in the case of the two Haas cars, that the rear wing element was not compliant, and this led to the disqualification: “The Technical Delegate discovered during the examination that the adjustable positions of the wing element higher rear exceeded the maximum allowed by Article 3.10.10.h of the Technical Regulations of 85 mm. The team explained that this was the consequence of an inadvertent error on their part in setting the wing flap gap. The wing used was a new design first used in Munich. The old design had to comply with regulations with the largest gap measured from the center of the wing. With the new design, the largest gap was at the wingtips, but the team had not trained their mechanics to set the gap according to the new design, resulting in non-compliance.”
The two Haas drivers will therefore have to start from Pit Lane tomorrow. A sentence that in fact heavily affects the fate of both in Monaco, where it is difficult, if not impossible to overcome.
How the starting grid changes
As we said, Hulkenberg and Magnussen did not finish higher than twelfth place, so the top 10 does not undergo any changes. However, those who gain positions are all those who classified from P13 onwards. Daniel Ricciardo and Lance Stroll gain 1 position. All the drivers who stopped in Q2, namely Alonso, Sargeant, Perez, Bottas and Zhou, earned 1 points.
Source statements: F1
