Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have each been disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix in a disastrous blow for Ferrari within the second race of the 2025 season.
The automobiles of each drivers failed post-race checks, with Hamilton’s skid block discovered to be beneath the minimal thickness, whereas Leclerc’s automobile was discovered to be underweight.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly has additionally been disqualified from the ultimate race classification for an underweight automobile.
It means Hamilton and Leclerc’s factors for his or her sixth and fifth place end respectively – eight and 10 – are wiped from their championship tally.
The disqualification doesn’t influence Hamilton’s sprint race victory on Saturday, for which he secured eight factors, but it surely marks a calamitous finish to the Shanghai weekend for Ferrari and their crew boss Fred Vasseur.
Each Hamilton and Leclerc have been disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix, additionally for injury to the skid block, and this newest setback additional highlights the difficulties Hamilton could face at his new crew after 12 years with Mercedes.
Hamilton and Leclerc had earlier clashed within the race, with minor contact on lap one inflicting injury to Leclerc’s front-wing. It’s unknown whether or not that is what has impacted his underweight automobile.
Hamilton moved over across the swooping flip one, touching Leclerc’s entrance wing within the course of, with the Monegasque compelled to drive the entire 56-lap race with a broken wing.
But oddly, Leclerc had superior tempo and Hamilton was instructed to maneuver apart for his teammate midway by way of the race.
Talking concerning the incident, Leclerc stated: “Actually, it’s not Lewis’s fault in any respect.
“I used to be across the inside attempting to place the automobile for flip 3, Lewis didn’t know I used to be there – I didn’t suppose Lewis would come again to the apex.
“It’s a racing incident, it’s not the primary of final time it’ll occur. Disgrace it occurred between the 2 crimson automobiles.”
Requested why he didn’t change his entrance wing on the pit-stop, Leclerc replied: “We didn’t wish to take the eight seconds to alter the wing, didn’t wish to take that threat.
“I needed to maximise the outcome, I believe we did effectively.”
Extra to observe…
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