China GP Fallout: Ferrari duo disqualified

The 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix ended in chaos Sunday as post-race disqualifications rocked the results, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton excluded from the final classification due to technical infringements.

Originally finishing fifth and sixth, Leclerc and Hamilton were disqualified after scrutineering revealed separate rule breaches. Leclerc’s Ferrari was underweight by 1kg, while Hamilton’s Mercedes failed the plank wear check, with the rear skid block worn 0.5mm below the legal limit.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was also disqualified for a similar weight violation, although he finished outside the points.

The twin disqualifications are a major blow to Ferrari, who had been showing signs of life after a sluggish start to the season. The team issued a statement accepting full responsibility—citing tyre degradation from Leclerc’s one-stop strategy and a miscalculated plank wear scenario on Hamilton’s car.

“There was no intention to gain any advantage,” Ferrari stated, vowing to learn from the incident.

The disqualifications handed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri his third career win, completing a lights-to-flag triumph in Shanghai. His teammate Lando Norris took second, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the podium. Esteban Ocon and rookie Kimi Antonelli also moved into the points following the reshuffle.

Despite the latest setback, U.S. sportsbooks still show faith in Ferrari, listing them as the second favorite to win the Constructors’ Championship at +1200, while Mercedes lags behind at +2000.

McLaren, following back-to-back dominant performances, are now the clear frontrunners at -750 with Nags.bet.

Leclerc also lost a major personal milestone, as his disqualification nullified what would have been enough points to surpass Sebastian Vettel as Ferrari’s all-time leading scorer.

Vettel remains ahead with 1,400 career points for the Scuderia.

After two rounds, Ferrari finds itself tied for fourth in the Constructors’ standings with just 17 points—far off the pace of their preseason championship ambitions.