Ferrari issue statement after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix
Ferrari Responds to Disqualification Controversy After Disastrous Chinese Grand Prix
Ferrari has finally broken its silence following a devastating double disqualification at the Chinese Grand Prix, a race weekend that initially held promise but ended in major disappointment for the Italian team.
The weekend had started on a high note for the Scuderia, with Lewis Hamilton securing a victory in Saturday’s sprint race ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. However, any optimism quickly faded on Sunday when Ferrari found itself at the center of post-race controversy.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton initially finished in sixth place, just behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who crossed the line in fifth. But both drivers were later summoned to the stewards for an investigation after the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, detected irregularities with their cars. Upon inspection, it was determined that Leclerc’s car was underweight, while Hamilton’s Mercedes had excessive skid wear, leading to both drivers’ disqualification. Adding to the drama, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly also suffered the same fate as Leclerc, with his car found to be underweight as well.
Following the high-profile disqualifications, Ferrari has now addressed the controversy in an official statement, seeking to clarify the situation and reassure their fans.
Ferrari Addresses FIA’s Ruling
Taking to social media, Ferrari released a statement acknowledging the disqualification and explaining the circumstances behind the irregularities found in their cars.
“Following the FIA post-race scrutineering, both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons. Car 16 (Leclerc’s) was found to be underweight by 1 kg, while car 44’s (Hamilton’s) rearward skid wear was 0.5mm below the limit,” the statement read.
Ferrari went on to clarify the factors that led to these infractions, particularly in Leclerc’s case. The team explained that his one-stop strategy resulted in significant tyre degradation, which in turn affected the overall weight of the car by the end of the race. As for Hamilton’s skid wear violation, Ferrari admitted that they had miscalculated the consumption, leading to a minor but costly misjudgment.
“There was no intention to gain any advantage,” Ferrari emphasized in their statement. “We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. Clearly, it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend, neither for ourselves nor for our fans, whose support for us is unwavering.”
A Setback for Ferrari, but Focus Shifts to Japan
The double disqualification is a significant blow for Ferrari, as both cars losing their points could have implications for their position in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Despite the disappointment, the team is now turning its attention to the next race on the calendar.
Formula 1 will return in two weeks’ time with the Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled to take place at the iconic Suzuka Circuit on April 6. Ferrari will be eager to put the disappointment of China behind them and come back stronger, ensuring that such costly mistakes do not happen again.
With the championship battle heating up, all eyes will be on how Ferrari responds on the track as they seek redemption in Japan.