Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix due to technical violations, marking a historic double DQ for Ferrari

In an astonishing development, both Ferrari drivers were handed disqualifications after post-race inspections revealed violations of Formula One’s technical regulations. Lewis Hamilton, who had finished sixth, was the first to be affected. His Ferrari was found to be too low to the ground, breaching the minimum height requirement. The violation led to his disqualification, and his eight points were stripped away. Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, wasn’t far behind in the penalty stakes. Leclerc had finished a place higher than Hamilton, but his car was deemed underweight, resulting in a similar fate. This double DQ marks a historic first for Ferrari, as it is the first time both of their drivers have been disqualified in the same race.

The Ferrari team’s misfortune became a significant talking point in the Formula One paddock. This unprecedented double disqualification from a single race has left fans, pundits, and team officials alike reeling. Both drivers were penalized for separate issues, but the timing and magnitude of the penalties caused a shockwave. Leclerc was the first to learn his fate, and the FIA stewards explained that Ferrari had made a “genuine error” in both cases. For Ferrari, a team with a rich racing history, the weekend in Shanghai marked an unfortunate first in its storied involvement in the sport.

Not only did the disqualifications impact Hamilton and Leclerc’s point tally, but the incident also raised questions about Ferrari’s car setup and the team's ability to handle technical regulations. For the Scuderia, it was a sobering reminder that Formula One is as much about precision and compliance as it is about raw speed.

The heart of the controversy was the technical violations that led to both Hamilton and Leclerc’s disqualifications. Hamilton’s Ferrari was found to have an undercarriage that was too low—specifically, the plank assembly on the car measured between 8.5mm and 8.6mm in thickness, while the minimum required thickness is 9mm. The stewards’ investigation confirmed that the measurement was accurate, and Ferrari acknowledged that there were no mitigating circumstances. This technical error was enough to invalidate Hamilton’s sixth-place finish and rob him of valuable points.

Leclerc’s disqualification came as a result of his car being underweight. While the issue wasn’t related to the car’s setup in the same way as Hamilton’s, it nonetheless violated the strict weight requirements outlined in the FIA’s technical regulations. The Ferrari team admitted the mistake was a “genuine error,” and there was no room for leniency from the FIA stewards. As a result, both drivers were expelled from the rankings, with their results from the race nullified.

The disqualification came after what had already been a frustrating race for Hamilton, who had struggled to find pace in Shanghai. The 40-year-old had celebrated a win in the Sprint race, his first since switching from Mercedes to Ferrari, but his luck ran out during the main event. Hamilton struggled with car balance after setup changes made ahead of the race, which left him with a car that he described as “terrible.” The frustrations continued when he clashed with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, over strategy calls during the race, eventually allowing Leclerc to pass him as he finished in sixth.

In the aftermath of the disqualification, Hamilton reflected on the race with a measured tone. “It’s good learnings,” he said, acknowledging the errors but maintaining hope for future improvements. Despite the setback, Hamilton remained optimistic about Ferrari’s potential, stating that he would continue to adapt to the car and learn from the experience. With McLaren, Mercedes, and Max Verstappen gaining ground in the points standings, Hamilton knows that Ferrari must regroup quickly to stay competitive in the championship race.