In a shocking turn of events at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Pierre Gasly were disqualified after post-race technical inspections revealed significant breaches of FIA regulations. The disqualifications have not only erased crucial championship points for the Ferrari duo but have also reshuffled the final standings.
Initially, Hamilton and Leclerc finished sixth and fifth respectively, securing a considerable haul of points for their team. However, post-race scrutineering conducted by the FIA uncovered that Hamilton's skid block was below the minimum required thickness, while Leclerc's car was found to be underweight.
The pivotal moment for Hamilton occurred when the FIA announced the measurements for his Car 44: "The plank assembly of Car 44 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," reported by Formula 1. During the hearing, the team accepted all measurements were correct, leading to the unavoidable conclusion of disqualification.
Leclerc faced his own misfortunes, as his car weighed in at 799kg following the racing, violating Article 4.1 of the FIA’s regulations. Ferrari’s team explained, "Charles was on a one-stop strategy today, and this meant his tire wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight. With regard to Lewis’ skid wear, we misjudged the consumption by a small margin." This disqualification signifies the harsh penalties teams face for technical noncompliance.
The disqualifications were announced shortly after the race concluded on March 23, 2025, reshuffling the final race results and wiping out the 18 points initially claimed by Ferrari. This leaves racers Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz with the points, as they inherit the fifth and sixth place finishes. Carlos Sainz, notching the first point of his career with Williams, expressed both relief and surprise at the events that transpired post-race.
While both drivers faced scrutiny, the weekend had initially sparked optimism for Ferrari after Hamilton’s victory in Saturday's sprint race, which remains unaffected by the latest developments. Nonetheless, Hamilton’s disqualification adds to the salt in the wounds, being reminiscent of the previous disqualification he faced in the 2023 United States Grand Prix for a similar skid block issue.
Reflecting on the crash that marred Leclerc's race, he stated: "Honestly, it’s not Lewis’s fault at all. I was around the inside trying to position the car for turn 3, Lewis didn’t know I was there - I didn’t think Lewis would come back to the apex." Despite suffering from a damaged wing after this contact, Leclerc opted not to pit for repairs in hopes of salvaging the race—an ultimately futile strategy that underscores the challenges of tire management in Formula 1.
The weekends events reveal the fragility of racing strategies in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, as teams aim to maximize performance under the ever-watchful scrutiny of regulations. Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur echoed the sentiments of the team, stating they would learn from these mistakes, asserting, "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 incident highlights the razor-thin margins that can dictate a successful race weekend.
The fallout from the disqualifications means that as the season progresses, every point is critical. Teams will be closely analyzing both performance and compliance as they push for the championship in what is sure to be a highly competitive season. With the disqualifications serving as a stringent reminder of the technical regulations, it will be intriguing to see how Ferrari adapts to ensure they remain contenders.
As Formula 1 heads toward its next race, the repercussions of the Chinese GP will linger, making fans and teams alike more conscious of the balance between performance and compliance on the track.
