Kevin Magnussen was critical of what he described as “Formula FuelSaving” after he along with Esteban Ocon were disqualified from the United States Grand Prix.
The two drivers finished ninth and eighth respectively in Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas but would be excluded from those points-paying positions, promoting Brendon Hartley and Marcus Ericsson inside the top 10.
Magnussen’s disqualification for exceeding the 105kg limit of fuel allowed in the race marked the second time a Haas driver has been thrown out this season, following the still-contested exclusion for Romain Grosjean at Monza, and was particularly frustrating coming at the team’s home race.
“Unfortunately today we were racing in Formula FuelSaving rather than Formula 1,” he said. “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.
“Car was great though and the pit stop was amazing. On to the next one!”
Ocon’s breach was slightly different as he was deemed to have exceeded the 100kg/hr fuel flow limit on the opening lap, the same regulation Daniel Ricciardo was ousted of the 2014 Australian Grand Prix for.
“We didn’t get an advantage,” Force India boss Otmar Szafnauer argued.
“There are track limits but if you go outside track limits, which you shouldn’t do, then if you haven’t gained an advantage they don’t do anything. If you have gained an advantage then they do something.
“This is another limit where we haven’t gained an advantage. I think it is unprecedented.
“If you look at it over the lap there is no infringement, but it depends how you chop up the lap. This is the first time it has happened.”
Ocon later tweeted:
Pushing the whole race, getting good points, and getting disqualified in the end for a stupid reason is probably the worst feeling ever. Our mistake…
Anyway not giving up for sure!! #USGP #EO31 pic.twitter.com/u8vVd2D9sb— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) October 21, 2018