Plank wear has once again caused trouble in Formula 1, leading to a second consecutive driver disqualification in as many race weekends.
At the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, Nico Hulkenberg was disqualified after his Sauber was found to have excessive wear on its skid plank during post-race checks. This follows a similar incident in China, where Lewis Hamilton was also disqualified for a comparable breach.
FIA stewards reported that Hulkenberg’s car failed to meet the minimum plank thickness requirement under Article 3.5.9 e of the Technical Regulations, which stipulates a minimum of 9 mm. The inspection revealed measurements of 8.4 mm on the left, 8.5 mm in the center, and 8.4 mm on the right.
Although Hulkenberg finished the race in 14th, meaning no championship points were affected, the team admitted the violation was an unintended oversight despite following proper procedures.
This marks the second time in the 2025 season that excessive plank wear has led to disqualification, raising concerns about car setup and circuit impact on wear levels.
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