Ferrari need hard restart after Chinese GP debacle leaves team in tricky spot

03/24/2025 11:08 AM

Embarrassing disqualification of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc raises difficult questions for Scuderia

Before the Formula One season began Lewis Hamilton had taken his motorhome to Ferrari's Maranello factory, living alongside his new colleagues in order to bond with them and better learn their methodologies in an effort to make his transition into the Scuderia as seamless as possible. After he and his teammate, Charles Leclerc, were disqualified from Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, he may have to consider taking up residence again, hands on as a rocked Ferrari deal with a disheartening opening to the season.

Ferrari have never suffered a double disqualification before in the 75 years they have participated in F1, an embarrassment to which they held up their hands. They conceded that the skid block on the floor of Hamilton's car had been worn 0.5mm below the limit, while Leclerc's ride was 1kg below the minimum weight requirement. They said it was "genuine error" and a "mistake" they would endeavour not to repeat.