In a shocking turn of events at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Ferrari has confirmed its involvement in a scandal that saw both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified from the race following post-race inspections. The prestigious Italian team, which has long dominated the world of Formula 1, faced a catastrophic error, resulting in the loss of potential championship points for both drivers.
The double disqualification on March 23, 2025, marked an unprecedented moment in the team’s history, throwing aspirations for the season into chaos. Initially, Hamilton and Leclerc finished fifth and sixth respectively, which would have earned them a valuable 18 points. However, their subsequent disqualification led Ferrari to end the weekend with a score of zero.
According to the FIA, Hamilton’s car was found to have excessive wear on the skid block, measured at 8.5mm to 8.6mm, falling short of the 9mm minimum required by regulations. Leclerc’s car was even found to be 1kg under the 800 kg limit after fuel had been drained post-race. The ramifications of these disqualifications rippled through the standings, as Hamilton now sits ninth in the drivers' competition, while Ferrari trails McLaren by a staggering 61 points.
This disqualification has reignited discussions about Ferrari’s strategy and execution. Hamilton, who had celebrated winning the sprint race just 24 hours prior, could hardly believe the turn of events. “We made it quite a bit worse, I hadn’t tested it,” he admitted on Saturday about the car modifications made leading up to the race. Ironically, both drivers suffered from similar infractions last season, culminating in their exclusion from the United States Grand Prix.
Ferrari faced sharp criticism from the motorsport community for what some called 'unbelievably amateur' mistakes. Following the race, the team issued a statement accepting responsibility, attributing the weight infringement to tire wear that affected calculations due to an unexpected one-stop strategy. “Clearly, it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend,” the statement conveyed. “There was no intention to gain any advantage.”
The implications of the disqualification may prove catastrophic for Ferrari’s championship hopes as it becomes clear that every point counts in a fiercely competitive season. With McLaren claiming a one-two finish—Oscar Piastri finished first, followed by Lando Norris—Ferrari's inability to secure points puts them at a severe disadvantage this early in the season.
As fans express disappointment and concern over the team’s future, team principal Fred Vasseur must now focus on recovering from this setback before the next race in Japan. Hamilton himself reassured fans about staying resilient amid the challenges faced, interpreting the weekend's difficulties as a learning opportunity. “We will learn from what happened today,” he promised, emphasizing that the steep learning curve can only enhance future performance.
While it remains unpredictable how Ferrari will rebound from this disaster, the iconic team finds itself on a precipice that could result in further discontent if results do not improve quickly. As history has shown in Formula 1, the margins between success and failure are thin, but the stakes have never been higher for both drivers as they chase the elusive championship.
As the F1 season continues, all eyes will be on Ferrari and their pursuit of redemption, hoping they can correct the course and reclaim their former glory in the competitive world of motorsport.
