SHANGHAI — In a stunning twist following a roller-coaster weekend, the FIA has disqualified Lewis Hamilton from the Chinese Grand Prix, stripping him of his crucial points finish just hours after the chequered flag. The seven-time world champion, driving for Ferrari, had managed to salvage a sixth-place finish in Shanghai on Sunday, following a glorious sprint victory on Saturday. However, post-race scrutineering revealed a critical technical breach on his SF-25, making the initial celebrations in the Ferrari garage turn to frustration.
The infraction centers on the technical regulations governing the plank assembly on the floor of the car. According to the FIA technical delegate’s report, a routine check showed that the rearmost skid block on Hamilton’s car was worn below the required thickness, a strict breach of safety and technical protocols.
This marks a significant blow for the Briton’s early-season championship prospects, erasing eight championship points from his total. It brings back haunting memories of a similar incident in Austin in 2023, where a similar plank infringement resulted in a disqualification for his former team, Mercedes.
Ferrari team officials were summoned to the stewards immediately following the technical inspection. While they admitted the mistake, they maintained there was no intent to breach the regulations to gain a performance advantage.
“We misjudged the consumption by a small margin,” a Ferrari spokesperson said regarding the skid wear. The team cited a misunderstanding of the car’s behavior on the abrasive Shanghai track surface as the primary cause for the error, adding, “We will learn from what happened today.”
This disqualification compounds a disastrous day for Scuderia Ferrari, as teammate Charles Leclerc was also disqualified for an entirely separate infringement. Leclerc’s car was found to be underweight by 1kg, creating an embarrassing double penalty for the Italian powerhouse.
The penalties significantly impact the 2025 Constructors’ Championship table, with Ferrari losing out on 18 potential points. This slump effectively hands an early advantage to their rivals in the closely contested pack, including McLaren and Red Bull.
With both Ferraris removed from the final classification, other drivers in the top ten have been promoted. Esteban Ocon is the major beneficiary, moving up in the standings and earning a solid points haul for the Haas F1 team.
Lewis Hamilton, who was visibly disappointed in early reports, will now be forced to leave China with only the points earned from his Saturday Sprint performance. His hope of breaking records in his second outing for the Italian marque has been momentarily paused by this technical blow.
The FIA’s strict adherence to technical regulations, even in sprint weekends where setup time is limited, highlights the increasing difficulty of balancing performance and reliability. Ferrari must now regroup before the next race, leaving the paddock stunned by the dramatic conclusion of the Chinese Grand Prix
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