Shockwaves in F1 2025: Ferrari’s Chief Forecasts More Disqualifications Amidst High-Stakes Risk Taking
In the high-octane world of Formula One, the only thing certain is uncertainty. As the F1 2025 season roars into action, Ferrari’s Team Principal Fred Vasseur delivers a startling prediction: anticipate more disqualifications as teams ramp up the risk factor. But don’t confuse risk-taking with cheating, Vasseur warns. They are not one and the same.
The F1 circuit bore witness to this prediction at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend. F1 stalwarts – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton – along with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly were dealt the blow of disqualification. The reason? Technical infringements, not foul play.
Leclerc, the Monégasque maestro, and his prancing horse fell short of the 800kg post-race minimum weight requirement, while Hamilton, the celebrated Brit, was found guilty of excessive wear on his car’s floor. The plank on his SF-25 didn’t meet the required width post-race, leading to their swift disqualification.
Vasseur, the man at the helm of Ferrari, is no stranger to the cutthroat world of F1. He’s aware that this season, teams will push the envelope, testing the limits of their vehicles and their drivers. The pursuit of perfection and the hunger for victory will only intensify as more teams jostle for the top spot.
“Technical infringements are not synonymous with cheating,” Vasseur clarifies, stressing that the FIA vigilantly monitors numerous areas of each car. Vasseur’s tête-à-tête with the French press reveals his view on the matter: “In F1, the name of the game is to stretch every parameter to its utmost limit. Be it weight, plank width, or wing deformation, we need to be on the edge. The more the pressure mounts, the closer we get to these boundaries, and the higher the risks we undertake.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s speed demon, shared his thoughts on the recent disqualification on social media. Despite a damaged front wing from the get-go, Leclerc had an impressive fourth-place finish in China. “The past weekend was a tough one,” he shared on Instagram. “We need to regroup and work hard to bounce back in Japan. I’m confident we will.”
