Ferrari in Shambles in Shanghai: Reacting to the Chinese Grand Prix

(Photo Courtesy: NewYorkTimes.com)

After a promising sprint race early Saturday morning, Sunday proved to be a horrible day for the Scuderia, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc being disqualified for not complying with post-race FIA regulations. Hamilton’s floorboard (known as the plank) was too low to the ground, and Leclerc’s car was 1 kg underweight. While these may not seem like much to the casual fan, these can give the cars an advantage come race day.

Both Hamilton and Leclerc find themselves virtually out of both the drivers and constructors’ championships early. They are going to need a quick turnaround to generate some positive results, or we could be looking at a return to the dark days at Ferrari. Alpine driver Pierre Gasly was also found to have his car underweight and was disqualified from the race.

Ferrari aren’t the only team surrounded by question marks after Shanghai. Red Bull is facing some serious questions about choosing Liam Lawson. Lawson was chosen at the end of last season to replace Sergio “Checo” Perez to be the teammate of four-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, the New Zealander hasn’t finished in the top 15 in both races, and not qualifying past last place. Rumors have circulated over the last twenty-four hours about Red Bull making a change of drivers from Lawson to Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda ahead of his home grand prix in Japan.

Tsunoda has been racing for Racing Bulls for the last seven seasons and has now seen five different teammates to Verstappen. While he can be known for some recklessness on track, he has shown this season that he can challenge the front of the pack. Red Bull has a massive decision to make. If they decide to stick with Lawson, he, just like Ferrari, is going to have to generate good performances.

McLaren absolutely dominated the race, with Oscar Piastri taking the checkered flag. The current championship leader Lando Norris jumped from third to second on the start, and never looked back. They are undoubtedly the fastest cars on track, and a battle between Norris and Piastri for the drivers’ championship may have just begun.

The F1 calendar turns to the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, a narrow purpose-built track with tight hairpin turns and thin straights. Max Verstappen won last year’s race by about twelve seconds to his then teammate Sergio Perez. McLaren is on a hot start to 2025, and there’s no doubt that their high performance continues in Suzuka.

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