Ocon and Magnussen excluded from US Grand Prix results!

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Force India's Esteban Ocon and Haas' Kevin Magnussen have both been disqualified from the US Grand Prix following fuel flow infringements.

FIA telemetry data revealed that Ocon's Mercedes-powered car had exceeded the allowed 100kg/hr fuel flow rate during the opening lap of Sunday's race.

The Frenchman finished the event 8th, but the team's representative was immediately summoned to the stewards as an investigation on the alleged breach was underway.

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"What happened was that there was a spike of flow and then a trough – so if you look at it over a lap it was neutral," explained Force India team boss Otmar Szafnauer as he attempted to plead his team's case.

"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 did not profit from the breach insisted Szafnauer, but the argument didn't hold water to the stewards who excluded the driver from the results.

Shortly after, it was revealed that Haas' Magnussen was also under investigation for a similar infringement that led to the Dane being stripped of his ninth-place finish.

"The stewards find that the amount of fuel consumed exceeded 105 kg during the race," the ruling read.

The respective exclusions elevated Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley to 9th, a career best in F1 for the Kiwi while Sauber's Marcus Ericsson rounded off the top-ten.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.