“Ferrari’s Setback: FIA Disqualifications Shake Up Chinese Grand Prix Standings”…read more
Ferrari experienced a significant setback at the Chinese Grand Prix following disqualifications of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, causing major shifts in both the drivers’ and constructors’ standings. The disqualifications, issued for different technical infractions, had a dramatic impact on the race results and the overall championship rankings.
Hamilton was disqualified for exceeding the allowed wear on his car’s skid block, while Leclerc was penalized for his car being found underweight. These rulings led to the demotion of Ferrari, who had initially moved up to fourth in the constructors’ standings after Hamilton’s sprint race win. With both Ferrari drivers now disqualified, the team fell further down the rankings, while other drivers benefitted from the changes.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly also faced disqualification after his car was deemed underweight by the FIA. This further reshuffled the order, with several drivers moving up, including Williams’ Carlos Sainz, who secured his first championship point for his new team following Gasly’s penalty. As a result, Ferrari’s hopes of staying close to Red Bull were dashed, and they were once again demoted in the overall standings.
In contrast, McLaren made significant strides, extending their lead at the top of the constructors’ championship with a dominant one-two finish in the main race. Oscar Piastri’s victory propelled him to fourth place in the drivers’ standings, just 10 points behind championship leader Lando Norris, his McLaren teammate. McLaren’s strong performance added pressure to the teams below them, including Ferrari, who are now struggling to keep up.
Among the other beneficiaries of the disqualifications was Haas, who saw a remarkable rise in the constructors’ standings. Esteban Ocon’s fifth-place finish and rookie Ollie Bearman’s eighth-place result helped Haas climb to sixth in the rankings, benefiting from the penalties handed out to the other teams.
Ultimately, the dramatic disqualifications in China have had a ripple effect throughout the F1 standings, with Ferrari losing ground and other teams such as McLaren and Haas making significant gains. These changes highlight the unpredictable nature of F1, where technical infractions can quickly alter the championship picture.
