For the first time in its history, Scuderia Ferrari experienced a dramatic setback at the Chinese Grand Prix held on March 23, 2025, when both of its cars—driven by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—were disqualified following post-race inspections due to technical infringements. This shocking outcome had significant implications for the team as they seek to compete for the 2025 Constructors' Championship.
Leclerc's car was found to be underweight by 1kg, failing to meet the regulatory minimum weight limit of 800kg, while Hamilton's car suffered from excessive wear, with skid damage measured at 0.5mm below the allowed specifications. According to Scuderia Ferrari's statement, "Following the FIA post-race scrutineering both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons. Car 16 was found to be underweight by 1kg and car 44's rearward skid was found to be 0.5mm below the limit." This marked an embarrassing moment for Ferrari, as never before have they faced a double disqualification in the 75 years of their participation in the sport.
Initially, both drivers had finished the main event in Shanghai in fifth and sixth positions, respectively, after a challenging race weekend. Leclerc's situation arose from a one-stop strategy that led to significant tyre degradation, contributing to his underweight status. "Charles was on a one-stop strategy today and this meant his tyre wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight," Ferrari explained. Meanwhile, Hamilton's disqualification came as a result of a minor misjudgment regarding the wear of his car’s plank, a mistake reminiscent of past disqualifications faced by both drivers in previous seasons.
Interestingly, Ferrari's problems did not end with their own missteps; Alpine's Pierre Gasly was also disqualified for being underweight, indicating a difficult day for several teams on the grid. The disqualification meant that Ferrari lost out on 18 valuable points, relegating them to fifth place in the Constructors' Championship, now a staggering 61 points behind current leaders McLaren, who celebrated a successful double podium with drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the major impact these disqualifications would have going forward, stating, "There was no intention to gain any advantage. We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don't make the same mistakes again." This sentiment reflects the high stakes nature of Formula One racing, where teams constantly push the limits of regulations to gain competitive advantages. Vasseur went on to emphasize, "We have to be at the limit on every single item of the car," showcasing the razor-thin margins between success and failure in the sport.
This dismal outcome was a stark contrast to the previous day's sprint race, where Hamilton had lifted the spirits of Ferrari by transforming pole position into a commanding victory. "Getting my first Sprint pole and then win in a Ferrari was such a special feeling. The car felt strong and we managed to bring everything together to cross the line first," he had elatedly shared after the race. This weekend had initially signaled a promising start for Ferrari, but ultimately turned into a formidable challenge for the team to overcome.
The Chinese Grand Prix weekend's events were compounded by the performance of the new C2 hard tyre compound, which had only seen limited testing prior to the race. Mario Isola, the motorsport director at Pirelli, noted how the characteristics of the new tyre might have caught teams off guard; like many elements in F1, tyre degradation is often nonlinear and can dramatically impact how cars perform under race conditions. In Ferrari's case, while the one-stop strategy appeared to be a viable choice based on the conditions, the repercussions were costly.
In an effort to boost morale amid these setbacks, Vasseur assured fans and the team that they would regroup ahead of their next race in Japan. Maintaining a level head in the face of adversity will be crucial as Ferrari seeks to rectify its mistakes and regain a competitive edge in the championship race.
The final word on Leclerc's and Hamilton's disqualifications may depend on the outcome of a forensic analysis of Leclerc’s tires by Pirelli back in Milan, as the margins between winning and losing in Formula One grow ever finer.
