FIA Confirms Double Disqualification for Lewis Hamilton after…..read more
The fallout from Ferrari’s double disqualification at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix continues to ripple through the paddock, with Formula 1 pundit Ted Kravitz suggesting the team—and particularly Lewis Hamilton—may still be reeling from the consequences. According to Kravitz, what seemed like a one-off regulatory blunder might actually have had longer-term effects on Ferrari’s performance and mindset, especially for Hamilton, who has recently voiced confusion over his dip in form.
Back in March, the Chinese Grand Prix appeared to offer a glimmer of progress for both Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Both drivers crossed the finish line in the points, providing hope for a stronger campaign. However, that optimism was short-lived. Post-race scrutineering revealed that both Ferrari cars were in breach of Formula 1’s stringent technical regulations—specifically in relation to car weight and plank wear, the latter being more critical.
The result was a devastating double disqualification, which not only stripped the team of valuable points but also left Ferrari red-faced. The incident sparked an immediate internal review, and the Scuderia publicly committed to avoiding such costly mistakes in the future. Team representatives also extended heartfelt apologies to fans, who were left disillusioned by the unexpected setback.
In the weeks since, Lewis Hamilton has become increasingly vocal about his frustrations. Despite putting in the work, the seven-time world champion has struggled to find pace and rhythm, often finishing races well below his and the team’s expectations. During various interviews, Hamilton has admitted he doesn’t fully understand why the car has become so uncompetitive, stating that the performance just hasn’t been there since the Shanghai race.
Kravitz, speaking on the latest Sky Sports F1 podcast, believes there may be a clear technical explanation behind the team’s mysterious drop-off. “China was competitive,” Kravitz noted. “But because of the double disqualifications—on car weight, which is explainable, but plank wear which is probably more to the point—they’ve had to raise the car.”
Plank wear violations typically stem from running a car too low to the ground, which can increase speed by improving aerodynamics but risks breaching FIA limits designed to ensure safety and fairness. Kravitz speculates that in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment, Ferrari may now be running their cars at a higher ride height than optimal.
He continued, “Something Lewis referred to, he said, ‘We’ve not been competitive since China.’ Is that just because they’ve raised the car? Because they can’t run it low anymore without risking another disqualification? They’re probably so terrified of a repeat of that incident that it’s compromised their entire setup.”
If true, the team’s current struggles may not simply be about pace or upgrades but could reflect a deep-seated fear of repeating past regulatory breaches. Ferrari’s desire to avoid another scandal might be costing them valuable tenths of a second per lap—and for a team trying to return to title contention, that could be the difference between winning and just surviving.
