In a surprising turn of events, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have been disqualified from the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix following post-race inspections that uncovered certain irregularities. A hard-fought race that saw both drivers finish in the points, with Leclerc in fifth and Hamilton in sixth, has ended in a shock disqualification for both.
The race, held at the Shanghai International Circuit, witnessed an early contact between the two drivers which resulted in the Monegasque losing his front-wing endplate. Further post-race inspections unveiled that Leclerc’s car was a mere one kilogram underweight after the fuel was drained and a replacement front-wing was attached.
Hamilton’s case was no less controversial. The rearmost skid, a component of the underside plank on his car, was found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm at all three measurement points.
Interestingly, they weren’t the only ones penalized. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly also faced disqualification for the same issue as Leclerc, his car being a kilogram underweight.
These disqualifications have triggered a reshuffle in the final standings. Haas’ Esteban Ocon has been promoted to fifth place while his teammate Oliver Bearman has moved up to eighth. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli now finds himself in sixth position, with Williams’ Alex Albon in seventh. Carlos Sainz, also from Williams, has been bumped up to the points in the 10th spot, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll now sits in the ninth position.
While the disqualifications of Leclerc and Hamilton have certainly cast a shadow over the race, the victory of Oscar Piastri, who controlled the proceedings to take the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix victory, provides a silver lining. The story is still developing and more information is expected to follow.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the stringent checks and balances in place in the world of Formula 1 Racing. Even the slightest discrepancies can have significant repercussions, leading to disqualifications of even the most seasoned racers. It underscores the importance of adhering to regulations, not just during the race, but also in the setup and maintenance of the vehicles.