Ferrari Blames One-Stop Strategy for Hamilton and Leclerc’s Disqualification after the inv…read more
Ferrari’s performance at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix ended in controversy after both of their cars were disqualified following post-race technical inspections. While Charles Leclerc finished the race in fifth and Lewis Hamilton in sixth, Ferrari’s strong results were overshadowed by non-compliance issues. Leclerc’s car, the SF-25 #16, was found to be underweight, while Hamilton’s car suffered from excessive floor wear, particularly the skid block. These technical infractions led to both drivers being disqualified from the final results.
In an unprecedented turn of events, Ferrari became the first team in Formula 1 history to have both of their cars disqualified after a race for two different reasons. The disqualifications meant that Ferrari lost all points from the race, leaving them with only the 12 points earned in the Sprint race earlier in the weekend.
Ferrari quickly released an official statement addressing the reasons behind the disqualifications and the team’s strategic decisions during the race. According to the statement, Leclerc’s one-stop strategy was a key factor in the tire wear issues that led to his car being underweight at the end of the race. The team explained that the high tire degradation caused by this strategy affected the car’s overall weight, which led to a violation of the technical regulations.
Regarding Hamilton’s car, Ferrari admitted to miscalculating the wear on the floor of the car, specifically the skid block, which caused excessive degradation. While the team acknowledged the mistake, they stressed that there was no intent to gain an unfair advantage from the issues. Ferrari promised to learn from the errors and ensure that such mistakes would not be repeated in future races.
The team also expressed their disappointment with the outcome, emphasizing that this was not the result they had hoped for, especially for the fans who have supported Ferrari tirelessly. The statement concluded with a commitment to improving their performance and ensuring that their cars meet all the technical requirements in future events.
This race marked a difficult weekend for the Scuderia, as they were forced to accept the reality of their disqualification, which tarnished what could have been a positive finish for the team. The incident serves as a reminder of the tight margins in Formula 1, where even small miscalculations can have significant consequences. Ferrari will now look to regroup and ensure they avoid similar issues as they continue their championship campaign.
