Ferrari issue official statement over disqualification of Hamilton and Charles leclerc during a…read more
Ferrari has issued an official statement following the disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after the Chinese Grand Prix. Both drivers were stripped of their points finishes due to issues with their cars during post-race scrutineering. Leclerc’s car was found to be underweight, while Hamilton’s car had excessive wear on its skid block. As a result, the pair’s fifth and sixth-place finishes were nullified, promoting other drivers in the standings and continuing Ferrari’s challenging start to the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The FIA confirmed that Leclerc’s car (car 16) was found to be 1kg underweight, while Hamilton’s car (car 44) had its rearward skid block found to be 0.5mm below the prescribed limit. Ferrari’s statement explained the reasons behind the disqualifications, stating that Leclerc had adopted a one-stop strategy during the race, which led to increased tire wear, causing his car to be underweight. Regarding Hamilton’s skid wear, Ferrari admitted to misjudging the consumption by a small margin.
Hamilton’s start to his Ferrari career has been disappointing, with a 10th-place finish in the Australian Grand Prix followed by the disqualification at the Chinese GP. The disqualification means that Hamilton has earned only a single point from the two races so far this season. Despite the setback in the Grand Prix, Hamilton had a bright moment in the weekend, winning the sprint race. This victory allowed him to surpass Leclerc in the standings, though he remains 35 points behind Lando Norris, the current leader of the championship.
Hamilton made the move to Ferrari with the hope of challenging for an eighth World Championship title. However, with such a difficult start to the season, it appears that a title challenge in 2025 may be out of reach. Ferrari’s statement expressed regret over the situation but assured that there was no intention to gain an unfair advantage from the issues. The team emphasized that they would learn from the experience and work to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.
The statement also acknowledged the disappointment of their fans, who have remained loyal and supportive despite the team’s struggles. The news of Hamilton and Leclerc’s disqualifications came shortly after Pierre Gasly was also disqualified from the race. Gasly, who finished in 11th place, was found to have a similar issue with his car being underweight.
The disqualifications have further marred Ferrari’s 2025 season, and the team will be focused on ensuring that such issues do not continue moving forward, as they strive to get back on track in the championship standings.
