In the wake of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, F1 legend Ralf Schumacher has slammed Ferrari for their apparent ‘incompetence’ following the disqualification of their star drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, due to technical infringements. Making matters worse, the blunders were unrelated and individual to each car, highlighting the lack of precision within the team.
Hamilton’s second weekend on team Ferrari was a rollercoaster of emotions, from the jubilation of leading the Sprint race from start to finish, to a disappointing performance in the qualifying rounds and the Grand Prix. Leclerc’s weekend was one of sheer determination, struggling to keep pace with Hamilton in the Sprint and battling against a downforce deficit in the Grand Prix.
The duo crossed the finish line in fifth and sixth places, a result falling short of their expectations, but still a step up from their performance in Australia. However, the jubilation was short-lived as news broke out that both drivers had been stripped of their positions.
A deeper dive into the technicalities revealed that Leclerc’s SF-25 was 1kg underweight while Hamilton’s skid block fell 0.5mm short of the limit. Ferrari accepted the ruling, explaining that Leclerc’s one-stop strategy resulted in heightened tyre wear and hence, a lighter car. As for Hamilton’s skid wear, Ferrari admitted to a minor miscalculation, but denied any intention of gaining an unfair advantage.
However, Schumacher’s critique of the team was unyielding. He pointed out Leclerc’s car had lost some weight after a minor collision with Hamilton in the opening lap, and argued that Ferrari should have factored that in. He dubbed the oversight as ‘incompetence’. Furthermore, Schumacher criticized Hamilton’s team for not considering the wear his skid block would suffer during the 19-lap Sprint and adjusting for the Grand Prix.
Schumacher, a seasoned veteran of the track, went on to say that the team’s performance was disappointing, especially following Saturday’s success. He insisted that Scuderia Ferrari must not leave any stone unturned in their quest to rectify these missteps, underscoring the need for meticulousness in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. As Ferrari grapples with these setbacks, the racing world watches with bated breath, anticipating the team’s response to these allegations.
