Ferrari’s Flawed SF-25 Exposed and Lawson’s Red Bull Exit Looms After Chinese GP Shocker

Shanghai, March 25, 2025 – Formula 1’s rollercoaster 2025 season just took another wild turn at the Chinese Grand Prix, where Ferrari’s early promise crumbled into a double disqualification disaster and Liam Lawson’s Red Bull lifeline frayed further. Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint race heroics—snagging pole and a seven-second win—set pulses racing, only for the Scuderia to crash back to earth with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton DQ’d from P5 and P6 in the main event. Meanwhile, Lawson’s dismal P20 qualifying double and P12 finish have sparked fresh buzz about a Yuki Tsunoda swap for Japan. Add in Kimi Antonelli’s gritty Mercedes drive, and the paddock’s buzzing—here’s the bombshell breakdown.

Ferrari’s Shanghai meltdown was as brutal as it was unexpected. Hamilton’s skid block wear—clocking in 0.4-0.5mm over the limit—and Leclerc’s car tipping the scales 1kg underweight erased 18 Constructors’ points, a historic first dual DQ for the team since 1950. Sky Sports F1’s Bernie Collins dropped a bombshell, hinting at a deeper flaw in the SF-25: “Maybe they’ve got a peaky ride height issue—an aero platform so sensitive it’s a liability across tracks.” Whispers of ride height woes trace back to Melbourne, where Ferrari raised the car to dodge plank wear risks, only to limp home P8 and P10. China’s Sprint pace masked the problem, but the Grand Prix exposed it—could this “fundamental flaw” derail Ferrari’s title chase?

Across the garage, Red Bull’s Lawson saga intensifies. The Kiwi’s 2025 debut has been a tire-shredding flop—P18 and a spin-out in Melbourne, then last in both China sessions. Even setup tweaks post-qualifying couldn’t lift him beyond P12, a result propped up by disqualifications ahead. Sky F1 reports Red Bull’s mulling a Tsunoda swap for Suzuka, and Christian Horner’s coy response—“We’ll look at the data; Liam’s struggling confidence-wise”—fuels the fire. Tsunoda, shining at Racing Bulls with Q3 runs and Sprint points, looms as the frontrunner. Lawson’s seat hangs by a thread—can he turn it around on a track he knows, or is his F1 dream toast?

Amid the chaos, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli emerged as a quiet hero. Qualifying P8 and finishing there—later bumped to P6 post-DQs—he battled severe floor damage, possibly from Leclerc-Hamilton debris. Toto Wolff raved to Autosport: “A massive hole in the floor, titanium streaks gone—he held on without complaining. That’s maturity.” Driver of the Day nods aside, Antonelli’s poise under pressure signals a star in the making, steadying Mercedes as Ferrari flounders.

The Chinese GP’s fallout is seismic. Ferrari’s SF-25 riddle demands answers—too peaky a ride height could haunt them on bumpier tracks like Australia’s kerbs. Lawson’s Red Bull tenure teeters, with Tsunoda’s Japan chance tantalizingly close. And Antonelli’s resilience keeps Mercedes in the hunt. As McLaren’s 1-2 domination looms, the paddock’s eyes shift to Suzuka—will Ferrari fix their gremlins, or Lawson fight back? This F1 season’s just heating up, and the next twist’s right around the corner.