Hamilton’s Ferrari Fairytale Turns Nightmare: Disqualified from Chinese GP in Shocking Twist
The script was written for a legendary weekend in Shanghai—Lewis Hamilton, in scarlet red, celebrating his first Ferrari win in Saturday’s Sprint, a moment dripping in nostalgia for fans who had long dreamt of the seven-time World Champion in Maranello red. But the dream came crashing down in a whirlwind of controversy and heartbreak as Hamilton was disqualified from Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, along with teammate Charles Leclerc, in a stunning post-race decision that has sent shockwaves through the paddock.
Hamilton’s rollercoaster race saw him battle through early contact with Leclerc, struggling to match the frontrunners before ultimately finishing P6. But the real drama unfolded after the checkered flag. FIA’s post-race inspection found his Ferrari SF-25’s rear skid block was below the minimum thickness of 9mm, leading to an immediate referral to the stewards. With Ferrari confirming the error, the verdict was swift—Hamilton was disqualified. Just when it seemed Ferrari’s woes couldn’t get worse, Leclerc was also hit with a separate DSQ for his car weighing 1kg under the legal minimum.
The decision has ignited fierce debate. Was this just a case of unfortunate technical miscalculations, or is the FIA’s hammer coming down harder on Ferrari? Fans are split, with some crying foul play, pointing out inconsistencies in past enforcement of regulations. Meanwhile, others argue that rules are rules, and Ferrari simply dropped the ball in what should have been a historic weekend.
With Alpine’s Pierre Gasly also disqualified for the same weight breach as Leclerc, the drama didn’t end with Ferrari’s downfall. Their double DSQ, along with Gasly’s, shuffled the finishing order—Esteban Ocon, Kimi Antonelli, Alex Albon, and Ollie Bearman all gained two positions, while Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz snuck into the points.
For Ferrari fans, this was supposed to be the fairytale comeback, a moment of triumph written in destiny. Instead, it became a nightmare straight out of the sport’s most brutal chapters. Will the Scuderia bounce back from this humiliation? Or is this a sign of deeper troubles ahead? One thing is certain—the drama in Formula 1 is far from over.
