Ferrari’s Lessons from Disqualification at Chinese Grand Prix
Ferrari is planning to draw insights from the disappointment of having both its cars disqualified at the Chinese Grand Prix, with their primary focus on closing the performance gap to McLaren, according to driver Charles Leclerc.
While Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton triumphed in the sprint race in Shanghai, Ferrari considers this result an anomaly. They are hopeful that their performance at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix will align more closely with their showing on race day in China.
During that race, Hamilton and Leclerc qualified fifth and sixth, and maintained fourth and fifth positions for the majority of the early stages. However, they were overtaken by Max Verstappen as the Red Bull began to shine with hard-compound tyres. Subsequently, both Ferraris faced disqualification—Leclerc for being slightly underweight, and Hamilton due to illegal wear on the skid plank.
“Whenever mistakes occur, we learn from them, especially when the stakes are this high,” stated Leclerc at the pre-race press conference in Suzuka. “Everyone is testing the limits and aiming to push as close as possible, but having both cars exceed these limits was a significant setback, which we could have avoided.”
Leclerc acknowledged that Ferrari’s technical infractions stemmed from operating close to regulatory limits. Straying over these limits—specifically regarding ballast and ride height—can cost valuable time per lap. Notably, Leclerc’s disqualification was on the edge of avoidable. In comparison, Verstappen made prudent choices during his cool-down lap that likely helped him stay compliant.
Both drivers’ situations highlight the state of competition, where McLaren currently has a strong, if sometimes erratic, car, while Ferrari finds itself trailing behind a competitive pack including Mercedes and Red Bull. “Achieving maximum performance is as challenging as ever, but our car simply doesn’t have enough performance right now compared to McLaren,” Leclerc added.
As the season progresses, Ferrari anticipates continued development of their car, with adaptability to varying track setups, weather conditions, and race dynamics remaining critical. Leclerc expects their performance this weekend to be more aligned with their potential than during the earlier races this season, as they seek to regain lost ground.
