Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint Victory at the Chinese Grand Prix Subject to FIA Ins… read more
Lewis Hamilton’s thrilling sprint race win at the Chinese Grand Prix has been subjected to a series of routine inspections by the FIA, according to an official statement. The checks, which are part of standard procedure at every Formula 1 race weekend, focused on ensuring that all cars were in compliance with the sport’s stringent regulations.
Hamilton, who recently joined Ferrari after a long career with Mercedes, secured his first victory of any kind with the Italian team during the sprint race. The victory came after a dominant performance, where Hamilton started from pole position and led the race from start to finish. He successfully fended off strong competition from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to claim the win. This marked a major achievement for Hamilton, who had a disappointing debut race with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, where he finished in 10th place. The victory at the Chinese GP has boosted the confidence of both Hamilton and Ferrari as they look to make strides in the 2025 season.
Following Hamilton’s victory, the FIA conducted a series of inspections on the 20 cars that participated in the sprint race. These inspections included weighing Hamilton’s SF-25, along with a thorough examination of various power unit components, which were standard checks as per the regulations. The FIA revealed that all cars, including Hamilton’s, were found to be in full conformity with the F1 sporting regulations. This outcome was typical for a Formula 1 race weekend, where such inspections are performed regularly to ensure that all teams adhere to the rules.
Despite the positive outcome for Hamilton and most other competitors, not all drivers escaped scrutiny. Jack Doohan, for example, faced a penalty after a clash with Gabriel Bortoleto in a tight midfield battle during the race. The FIA handed Doohan a 10-second penalty for the incident, which dropped him to the last position in the race results. On the other hand, Williams encountered issues earlier in the weekend, being penalized by the FIA for an infringement involving their rear and front wing cameras, which were intended to gather data for the FIA.
Although these matters were different from the routine post-race inspections, they highlighted the ongoing scrutiny that teams and drivers face throughout the weekend. The penalties imposed on Doohan and Williams underscore the FIA’s commitment to upholding fairness and compliance with the rules, even when the violations are not directly related to the performance of the car on track.
In conclusion, while Hamilton’s victory in the sprint race was undoubtedly a highlight of the weekend, the thorough inspections conducted by the FIA reaffirm the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport. With all cars passing the required checks, the FIA’s role in ensuring that every team adheres to the technical and regulatory standards was once again proven. Hamilton’s success with Ferrari marks a significant milestone in his career, but as always in F1, the attention to detail and compliance with regulations remain a key part of every race weekend.
