Ferrari endured a disastrous outcome at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified following post-race inspections. Leclerc and Hamilton originally secured fifth and sixth place, respectively, but were later excluded from the results due to technical infringements related to car weight and skid wear.

Technical Infractions Lead to Disqualifications

Leclerc’s Ferrari failed to meet the minimum weight requirement of 800 kg after fuel was removed, tipping the scales at 799 kg. The violation came despite a front wing replacement following a first-lap collision with Hamilton. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Mercedes was found to have excessive plank wear, with its skid thickness falling below the minimum 9 mm requirement.

“During the hearing, the team representative confirmed that the measurement was correct and that all required procedures were followed,” FIA stewards stated. “The team acknowledged that it was an unintentional error.”

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly also faced disqualification after his car failed to meet the minimum weight requirement. He had initially finished 11th but was removed from the results following the inspection.

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Ferrari Admits Mistakes but Denies Intentional Rule-Breaking

Ferrari acknowledged the mistake and clarified that Leclerc’s one-stop strategy resulted in excessive tire wear, ultimately leading to the weight discrepancy. “Charles was on a one-stop strategy today, which meant tire wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight,” the team explained.

Mercedes also accepted responsibility for Hamilton’s skid wear violation. “We misjudged the consumption by a small margin. There was no intention to gain any advantage,” the team stated. “We will learn from this and ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

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What’s Next in the F1 Season?

With these disqualifications shaking up the championship standings, teams will need to be extra vigilant in ensuring compliance with FIA regulations. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Ferrari, Mercedes, and Alpine to see how they bounce back from this costly setback.