Ferrari’s Shanghai setback: Breaking down the Hamilton and Leclerc disqualifications

SHANGHAI -- Just two races into the new Formula 1 season, Ferrari's hopes are dwindling. The Italian team trails McLaren by 61 points in the team standings, while drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are 35 and 36 points behind leader Lando Norris, respectively.

The outlook could have been brighter had Ferrari’s vehicles not been disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix due to technical infringements. Leclerc's car was underweight by 1 kilogram, while Hamilton's exhibited excessive plank wear.

Ferrari stated they had "no intention to gain any advantage," though the sport's strict regulations offer no excuses. Hamilton's car was deemed illegal for having excessive wear on its plank, which helps regulate how low the car is run. The FIA stipulates the plank must not wear below 9 millimeters. In Hamilton's car, it was worn past this limit in various points, leading to disqualification.

Recalling past incidents, the last disqualifications for plank wear were at the 2023 U.S. Grand Prix, involving Hamilton and Leclerc. A smooth track in Shanghai ruled out similar excuses for this race.

For Leclerc, it was a weight issue. F1 regulations demand a minimum car weight of 800 kilograms. Leclerc’s car, handicapped by damage and a worn tire strategy, came in underweight. Both Hamilton and Gasly faced similar penalties, with Ferrari acknowledging the error but citing high tire wear as the cause.

Ultimately, Ferrari lost 18 crucial points from the disqualifications, a substantial setback as they aim to close the gap with McLaren this season. If current trends continue, this could prove critical by year-end.

Why Hamilton was disqualified

The plank, a wood resin strip on the car's bottom, helps the FIA monitor car height and prevent dangerous setups. Lowering the car can boost performance but increases plank wear. The plank's thickness must be at least 9mm at any of its four measuring points to be legal.

Hamilton's plank was found too worn at three points: 0.4mm on the left, and 0.5mm in the center and right. For context, a quarter is 1.75mm thick.

The last disqualification for plank wear was at the 2023 U.S. Grand Prix involving Hamilton and Leclerc, partly due to a bumpy track and limited setup changes. In Shanghai, with a smooth track and allowed setup changes, such excuses were eliminated.

Ferrari admitted a minor misjudgment in plank wear, and the stewards confirmed it was a genuine error without mitigating circumstances.

Why Leclerc was disqualified

F1 regulations require cars, including the driver but excluding fuel, to weigh at least 800 kg. Post-race, Leclerc's Ferrari weighed 800 kg with fuel, but post-drainage, it was 1 kg under the limit, leading to disqualification.

Leclerc's car sustained front wing damage from a collision with Hamilton and remained underweight even when an identical undamaged wing was fitted. Pierre Gasly’s Alpine faced similar disqualification for the same issue.

Both drivers used a one-stop strategy, leading to higher tire wear and greater physical rubber loss, contributing to the weight drop. New F1 tires weigh 42 kg and can lose up to 3 kg during long stints.

Ferrari stated, "Charles was on a one-stop strategy today and this meant his tire wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight."

Despite Hamilton opting for a two-stop strategy with more rubber left, nine other cars, including Jack Doohan’s, completed one-stop races without falling under the weight limit. George Russell’s disqualification at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix for being underweight is a comparable example.

Ferrari lost 18 points due to disqualifications, a significant blow given their season's early potential against McLaren.

Up Next

• Lawson rues set-up changes in ‘extremely tough' Chinese GP as pressure mounts
• Ferrari takes responsibility for Hamilton and Leclerc disqualifications at the Chinese GP

Season-Defining Headlines