Ferrari’s Chinese GP Disaster Exposed: Hamilton and Leclerc Hit with Brutal Penalties as FIA Leaks New Evidence
Shanghai, March 24, 2025 – Ferrari’s rollercoaster weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix crashed into chaos on Sunday, as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the main race, wiping out 18 crucial Constructors’ Championship points. Fresh off Hamilton’s Sprint race triumph, hopes were sky-high—only to plummet when the FIA’s post-race scrutiny uncovered damning breaches: Leclerc’s car was 1kg underweight, and Hamilton’s rear skid wear exceeded limits by 0.5mm. With McLaren storming to a one-two finish, Ferrari’s fragility is laid bare—can the Maranello squad recover from this self-inflicted wound, or is their 2025 season already teetering on the brink?
The disqualifications sting all the more given Saturday’s promise. Hamilton’s pole-to-win Sprint performance had fans dreaming of a Ferrari resurgence, but Sunday’s Grand Prix exposed glaring missteps. Leclerc, finishing P5 on a one-stop strategy, saw excessive tire wear push his SF-25 below the weight limit—a preventable error echoing Mercedes’ 2023 Spa excuse. Hamilton, crossing in P6, fell victim to a misjudged skid wear calculation, a “small margin” Ferrari admits they botched. The team’s statement was frank: “There was no intent to gain an advantage, but we misjudged Charles’ tire wear and Lewis’ skid consumption. We’ll learn from this.” Yet, with every team adapting to a one-stop race after George Russell’s mid-race pivot, Ferrari’s excuse rings hollow—why didn’t they pit Leclerc to salvage points instead of risking it all?
Team boss Fred Vasseur tried to salvage positives, pointing to Hamilton’s Sprint dominance and Leclerc’s “mega” pace despite front wing damage. “Lewis’ pole and win, Charles’ speed—these are the highs we take,” he said. But the lows are undeniable. Hamilton lamented the car’s drastic shift from Saturday: “It was decent in the Sprint, but changes we made for the race killed the rear end and low-speed grip. I tried something different, but it backfired.” Leclerc, meanwhile, hinted at strategy woes, revealing ignored pleas for a Plan C shift mid-race. “I told them it’d work, but they stuck to Plan A,” he said, exposing a disconnect that cost Ferrari dearly.
The fallout is brutal. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri capitalized with a crushing one-two, while Ferrari’s zero-point haul leaves them scrambling. Japan’s Suzuka circuit, with its high-speed corners suiting the SF-25, offers hope—but only if Maranello solves their low-speed woes and rear downforce deficits fast. “The track suits us better than China,” Vasseur noted, yet the clock is ticking. Losing 18 points this early could haunt them in a season where they’re expected to challenge for titles.
Amid the turmoil, Hamilton and Leclerc’s bond remains a silver lining. “Our relationship’s really strong,” Leclerc said. “We respect each other’s achievements, and we’ll keep fighting together.” That unity will be tested as Ferrari races to regroup. Fans are split—some see a team poised to rebound, others a squad spiraling into familiar chaos. With McLaren untouchable and upgrades looming, Ferrari’s next move is make-or-break. Can they channel Hamilton’s Sprint magic into a Japanese revival, or will this disaster define their year? The golf world waits—and prays—for answers.
