George Russell on DSQ Alert as Qatar Grand Prix Team Radio Hints at Plank Wear Issues
Mercedes driver George Russell raised concerns about potential plank wear issues during practice at the Qatar Grand Prix, reporting he could smell wood from his car. This comes after McLaren's recent disqualification in Las Vegas for excessive plank wear, highlighting the critical importance of car setup and compliance. With the championship battle intensifying, teams are under pressure to avoid similar penalties.
Mercedes driver George Russell was on high alert for potential disqualification during practice at the Qatar Grand Prix, making a concerning comment over team radio about smelling wood on the track. The issue of plank wear has become a critical talking point in F1, especially after both McLaren drivers were disqualified from the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix due to excessive wear on their car's planks.
Why it matters:
McLaren's disqualification in Las Vegas, which saw Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lose their second and fourth-place finishes, had significant implications for the championship standings. George Russell and Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli were subsequently promoted to second and third. With the title fight heating up, any further issues with plank wear could dramatically shift the competitive landscape, particularly for Norris, who holds a 24-point lead over Piastri and Max Verstappen heading into the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Details:
- During Friday's FP1 session in Lusail, George Russell, driving his W16, reported smelling wood from his cockpit, suggesting potential issues with the car's ride height or contact with the track surface.
- McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, attributed their Las Vegas disqualification to "extensive porpoising" an unexpected car behavior specific to the Las Vegas street circuit, rather than an aggressive pursuit of performance.
- Stella expressed confidence that the issue was unique to Las Vegas and would not recur in Qatar, stating the team has a "well-established and consolidated way of setting up the car."
- He also noted that the team would learn from the Las Vegas experience, using the information to calibrate their approach for future races.
- Russell finished 14th in FP1, nine-tenths off the pace, while McLaren's Piastri and Norris topped the session.
- Qatar is the final sprint event of the season, meaning teams have only one hour of practice to fine-tune their setups before sprint qualifying. Revised parc fermé rules allow for setup adjustments between the sprint race and main qualifying.
What's next:
Teams will be under immense pressure to manage car setups and ride height to avoid plank wear issues, especially with the strict scrutiny following McLaren's disqualification. The sprint format further complicates matters, giving teams limited time to identify and rectify potential problems. The FIA's post-race scrutineering will be a major focus, as any repeat infringements could have severe consequences for the championship contenders.