In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified after their cars failed post-race technical inspections. This unexpected development not only stripped Ferrari of valuable points but also reshaped the race’s final standings.
**The Disqualifications: Technical Details**
Post-race scrutiny revealed that both Ferrari cars did not comply with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) stringent technical regulations:
– **Charles Leclerc’s Car**: Leclerc’s vehicle was found to be underweight by 1 kilogram. The minimum weight requirement, as stipulated by FIA regulations, is 800 kilograms. After the race, Leclerc’s car weighed 800.0 kg with the damaged front wing and 800.5 kg with a spare front wing. However, after draining 2.0 liters of fuel, the car’s weight dropped to 799.0 kg, falling below the mandated limit. citeturn0search0
– **Lewis Hamilton’s Car**: Hamilton’s car exhibited excessive wear on the rearmost skid block. FIA regulations permit a maximum wear limit of 1 millimeter. Measurements indicated thicknesses of 8.6 mm on the left-hand side, 8.6 mm at the centerline, and 8.5 mm on the right-hand side, all below the required 9 mm minimum thickness. citeturn0search0
These infractions led to the immediate disqualification of both drivers, nullifying their fifth and sixth-place finishes, respectively.
**Ferrari’s Response**
Ferrari promptly acknowledged the discrepancies, attributing them to miscalculations:
– **Underweight Issue**: The team explained that Leclerc’s one-stop strategy resulted in higher-than-anticipated tire wear, which contributed to the car being underweight post-race. citeturn0search1
– **Skid Block Wear**: Regarding Hamilton’s car, Ferrari admitted to misjudging the skid block’s wear rate, leading to the infraction. citeturn0search1
The team emphasized that there was no intent to gain an unfair advantage and expressed a commitment to rectifying these issues in future races.
**Impact on Race Results**
The disqualifications significantly altered the race’s outcome:
– **Race Winner**: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured victory, marking his third Formula 1 win. citeturn0news15
– **Podium Finishers**: Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, finished second, with Mercedes’ George Russell completing the podium in third place. citeturn0news15
– **Beneficiaries**: Several drivers benefited from the disqualifications:
– Esteban Ocon of Haas advanced to fifth place. citeturn0news16
– Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll moved up to ninth. citeturn0news16
– Williams’ Carlos Sainz gained the final point in tenth position. citeturn0news16
**Broader Implications**
This incident is not isolated in recent Formula 1 history:
– **Previous Disqualifications**: In 2023, cars from Mercedes and Ferrari, including Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s, were disqualified from the United States Grand Prix due to excessive skid wear. citeturn0search0
– **Regulatory Scrutiny**: The FIA’s rigorous enforcement of technical regulations underscores the importance of precision in car setup and strategy execution.
**Looking Ahead**
Ferrari’s dual disqualification serves as a stark reminder of the meticulous attention to detail required in Formula 1. As the season progresses, teams will undoubtedly reassess their strategies and technical preparations to ensure compliance and competitiveness in this highly demanding sport.
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