Disqualification
Disqualification removes a driver from the results of a session or race as if they hadn't taken part. Everyone behind moves up a place and inherits the points. In the results it appears as DSQ, and you'll also hear it called being excluded.
Most disqualifications in modern F1 are for technical reasons found in checks after the session, not for anything the driver did on track. The rule is strict: if the car didn't comply, the result doesn't stand, even if the breach gave no real advantage.
The post-race checks
After every qualifying session and race, the FIA's technical delegate and scrutineers check a selection of cars. Some checks are done on every car, others on a few chosen at random or picked because something looked odd. The scrutineering page goes into this in more detail. The three that catch people out most often are below.
Weight
Every car must be at or above the minimum weight when checked, including the driver in their kit and seat. For 2026 the limit is 768 kg, without fuel. Drivers are weighed separately after the race too.
After a race, cars are weighed with whatever fuel is left drained out. A team that ran the car right on the limit, then lost more weight than expected through tyre wear or the driver sweating, can end up a fraction under. George Russell lost victory at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix this way: his Mercedes was 1.5 kg underweight after he'd run a one-stop strategy that wore the tyres down further than usual.
The plank
Every car has a long plank running along the floor underneath. It has to be 10 mm thick when new, and at least 8 mm after the session, measured at set points. If it's worn below that, the car must have been running lower than allowed, which helps aerodynamic performance.
Running the car low is a fine balance, especially on bumpy tracks. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were both disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix for plank wear, and both McLarens were thrown out of the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix for the same reason.
Fuel
The FIA must be able to take a fuel sample from the car at any time during the weekend. Under the 2026 rules there has to be at least 0.7 litres available, and the sample is tested to make sure it matches the fuel the team declared. Sebastian Vettel was disqualified from second place at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix because his car didn't have enough fuel left for the sample, which at the time had to be 1 litre.
Other technical breaches
Anything on the car that doesn't match the technical regulations can lead to disqualification: bodywork that bends more than allowed, a rear wing that opens wider than permitted, or a part fitted that wasn't declared. Hamilton was excluded from qualifying at the 2021 São Paulo Grand Prix because the opening of his rear wing measured slightly too wide in one test. He started the sprint from the back and went on to win the race.
When this happens after qualifying, the driver normally keeps the right to start the race, just from the back of the grid.
Disqualification for driving
The stewards can also disqualify a driver for driving offences, but it's reserved for the most extreme cases: deliberately crashing into someone, or ignoring a black flag. It's far rarer than technical disqualification.
The most famous example is Michael Schumacher in 1997. He turned into Jacques Villeneuve while defending the lead at the title decider in Jerez, and the FIA later excluded him from the whole 1997 Drivers' Championship. He kept his wins on record, but lost his second place in the standings.
Can a team appeal?
Yes. Unlike most race-day time penalties, a disqualification can be taken to the International Court of Appeal. See protests, appeals and the right of review. In practice, technical disqualifications are rarely overturned, because the measurement is usually clear-cut.