Hamilton and Leclerc Under FIA Scrutiny Following Disqualifications at the Chinese Grand Prix
As Formula 1 prepares for the Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA has confirmed that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were subjected to additional inspections following the controversial events of the Chinese Grand Prix. The scrutiny comes after both Ferrari drivers were disqualified from the results of that race due to technical infringements.
Post-race checks revealed that Leclerc’s SF-25 was underweight, while Hamilton’s car exhibited excessive wear on the rear skid block, a component that helps regulate ride height and prevent performance advantages from lower-than-allowed ground clearance. These findings led to both drivers losing their fifth and sixth-place finishes, stripping Ferrari of a valuable 18 points in the constructors’ standings. The setback now sees the Scuderia languishing in fifth place in the championship with just 17 points to their name.
Interestingly, it has now been revealed that Ferrari’s cars were selected at random for further examination by the FIA even before the disqualifications were confirmed. After every Grand Prix, the governing body routinely selects two cars from the top ten for more extensive inspections. At the Chinese GP, both of Ferrari’s SF-25s were chosen, a move that led to the uncovering of the technical issues.
Ahead of the upcoming race at Suzuka, the FIA issued a statement explaining the nature of the additional checks. These included detailed reviews of the data from mock pit stops carried out by the team, as well as physical and visual inspections during those simulations. Moreover, the FIA reviewed the source code from Ferrari’s control unit to ensure compliance with technical regulations.
Fortunately for the Maranello-based team, the governing body found all aspects of the extra inspection to be within legal limits. As a result, Ferrari will not face any further sanctions. The FIA confirmed that all evaluated items complied with the current technical framework, bringing some relief to the team after the recent disqualification blow.
A Rocky Start for Hamilton at Ferrari
The ongoing scrutiny comes at a time when Lewis Hamilton’s start to life at Ferrari has been far from ideal. After making the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari at the start of the 2025 season, expectations were sky-high for the seven-time world champion. The British driver was brought in as a marquee signing, replacing Carlos Sainz, who had been in strong form. Ferrari’s intent was clear: to end their long-standing title drought, with their last championship of any kind dating back to 2008.
However, the opening rounds of the season have not gone to plan for either Hamilton or the team. Hamilton has managed to collect just a single point from the first two main races of the season, which would have looked even worse were it not for a victory in one of the sprint races. Leclerc, his teammate, has also had a disappointing start, with both drivers now sitting in ninth and tenth place respectively in the drivers’ standings.
The pressure is mounting on Ferrari to deliver results quickly, especially with the competitive nature of the 2025 season. Red Bull, Mercedes, and even Aston Martin appear to be in stronger form at this stage, leaving Ferrari to play catch-up if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
As the F1 circus rolls into Japan, all eyes will be on the red cars and their star signing. With no additional penalties looming from the FIA’s latest inspection, Ferrari can focus purely on performance. For Hamilton, the race at Suzuka offers another opportunity to get his Ferrari journey back on track and remind the paddock of his championship pedigree.
