In a shocking twist at the Shanghai International Circuit, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, March 23, 2025, due to significant technical infringements that have dramatically impacted Ferrari's standings in the championship.
Following the race, post-race checks conducted by the FIA revealed that Hamilton's car had a skid block that was found to be beneath the required thickness limit, confirming a serious violation of the technical regulations. According to an FIA statement, "the plank assembly of Car 44 [Hamilton] was measured and found to be 8.6mm (LHS), 8.6mm (car centerline) and 8.5mm (RHS). This is below the minimum thickness of 9mm specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations." This disqualification represents not just a loss of placement but also a disappointing end to what began as a promising race weekend.
Leclerc also faced disqualification, his car determined to be underweight after the race. A spokesperson from Ferrari noted, "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." In the race results prior to disqualification, Hamilton finished in sixth place, adding eight points to his championship tally, while Leclerc, who finished fifth, added ten points. However, both drivers now face the grim reality of having those points wiped from their standings.
The disqualifications do not affect Hamilton's victory in the sprint race held on Saturday, March 22, where he achieved his first win for Ferrari, celebrating with relief as he overcame competitive pressure. Yet, the disqualification casts a long shadow over the team's aspirations for the season. The inability to maintain that momentum into the main race signifies a considerable stumble early in the 2025 season.
Adding to this narrative of disappointment is the disqualification of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who finished the race just outside the points in eleventh place before he too faced a penalty for being underweight. The series of disqualifications underscores the ongoing challenges teams face in balancing performance with compliance to strict technical standards.
In the wake of these events, the revised top ten of the Chinese Grand Prix has been unveiled, now featuring Oscar Piastri of McLaren as the winner, followed by his teammate Lando Norris in second place, and George Russell from Mercedes in third. Notably, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Esteban Ocon (Haas) rounded out the top five.
As Ferrari grapples with the ramifications of losing 18 points from this singular race, they find themselves tied with Williams at fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, a stark contrast to the high hopes following the pre-season testing. After years of racing at the front, this season marks a disheartening start that the team must quickly rectify if it wants to contend for the championship.
The incident also raises questions on both driver strategies and team performance under pressure. Hamilton remarked on his race strategy prior to the disqualification, expressing, "Ultimately we had a pretty decent car in the sprint, we made some changes and made it worse. Lots to learn, the pit stop is too long here and they were still going fast at the end." The lesson, it seems, is that speed can come at a cost, and for Ferrari, it was a costly misjudgment.
Looking ahead, the 2025 season now appears fraught with uncertainty for Ferrari. The importance of maintaining integrity and compliance with regulations looms larger than ever. With only two races completed, the team must adopt a winning mindset in response to the fresh challenges posed by competitors and the burden of maintaining both speed and regulation adherence.
In closing, the events at the Chinese Grand Prix serve as a hard lesson for Ferrari. The aim must now be to prevent further missteps as they seek to reclaim momentum in the upcoming races of the season. With the stakes elevated and the weight of expectation heavy, the next race will be critical in determining the trajectory of both Hamilton's and Leclerc's season.
