The Chinese Grand Prix took an unexpected turn after a dramatic disqualification of three prominent drivers—Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly—following post-race inspections that simply couldn’t cut them a break. This turn of events has left Ferrari grappling with the ramifications of their costly oversights, casting a shadow over their aspirations for the current season.
During the fiercely competitive race held on March 23, 2025, in Shanghai, both Leclerc and Gasly’s cars were found to weigh 799 kg after the removal of fuel—1 kg below the mandatory minimum weight requirement. This alarming revelation was brought to light by FIA delegate Jo Bauer, who explained, “The car was weighed again on the FIA scales (with the official spare front wing assembly of car 16) and the weight was 799.0 kg.”
Hamilton faced an equally grim fate; the disqualification stemmed from excessive wear on his car’s underbody skid block. Measurements showed an alarming disparity, with the rearmost skid block registering between 8.5 mm and 8.6 mm—undercutting the minimum requirement of 9 mm. The FIA elucidated, “The recorded measurement was 8.6 mm (LHS), 8.6 mm (car centerline) and 8.5 mm (RHS).” These violations cost Hamilton and Leclerc their hard-earned fifth and sixth places, nullifying 18 crucial points that could have impacted their championship standings significantly.
The post-race disqualifications, while somewhat unsurprising given previous trends, still left fans and analysts reeling. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Hamilton and Leclerc have faced such infractions; their disqualification at the 2023 United States Grand Prix due to excessive skid wear is a testament to the razor-thin margins in Formula 1 regulations. After the disqualifications were announced, Hamilton lamented the strictness of the regulations and showcased his determination to bounce back, stating, “People just love to be negative at any opportunity. Even with the smallest things, they’ll just be negative about it.”
The race itself was not without its own drama. Leclerc and Hamilton made contact during the first lap, leading to damage to Leclerc’s front wing. The Monegasque driver, however, demonstrated extraordinary resilience by maintaining a competitive pace despite this adversity. Ferrari’s decision not to change the damaged wing during their pit stop—a strategic gamble—eventually proved consequential, as Leclerc candidly reflected, “We didn’t want to take the eight seconds to change the wing, didn’t want to take that risk.”
In the aftermath of the disqualifications, the results shifted dramatically. With Hamilton and Leclerc’s penalties invalidating their results, Esteban Ocon’s performance surged forward, elevating him to a shocking fifth-place finish. Alongside him, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Alex Albon, and Oliver Bearman were beneficiaries of the situation, moving up the grid and claiming valuable points.
Ferrari has sustained a substantial blow to its championship hopes. The team now finds itself in fifth place in the constructors’ standings, trailing the leader, McLaren, by a staggering 61 points. This early season predicament has cast doubt over Ferrari’s ability to mount a serious challenge for the title, with the team languishing behind both Mercedes and Red Bull.
After such a tough race in Shanghai, Ferrari issued a statement, which highlighted their concern about the damaging impact these oversights could have on their season. “Following the FIA post-race scrutineering, both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons,” the team stated. “Car 16 was found to be underweight by 1 kg and car 44’s rearward skid wear was found to be 0.5 mm below the limit. We slightly underestimated the wear on the skid block on Hamilton’s car and there was no intention to gain any unfair advantage.”
This disqualification serves as a major wake-up call for Ferrari. What once seemed like a promising start with Hamilton winning his first race for Ferrari in the sprint race just a day prior (and even claiming pole position earlier on March 21) has swiftly turned into turmoil. Hamilton's frustration was evident as he noted the public scrutiny he has been experiencing, remarking that, “It's just the difficult time that we're living in.”
The hope was that Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari would herald a new era of competitiveness, but instead, it's now a narrative punctuated by missed opportunities. The team has shown flashes of potential with Hamilton's victory in the sprint event, but the inability to secure points when it mattered has added another layer of frustration for the legendary team and its fans.
As Formula 1 races on, all teams, especially Ferrari and Alpine, are acutely aware of the weight of compliance with FIA regulations. The road to recovery will demand careful strategizing and improvements to prevent further mishaps. With 61 points to catch up, the pressure is mounting for Ferrari to quickly regain form and start collecting points if they're to contend for the championship.
Time will tell if Ferrari can bounce back from this harrowing task, but as it stands, the once-promising season is already veering off-course.
