Lewis Hamilton also disqualified in China

Winner of the Sprint on Saturday and sixth in the race this Sunday, the reason for the disqualification of Lewis Hamilton is not the same as for Leclerc and gasly. Where the latter two drove single-seaters that were said to be too light, it is at the level of the wear of the floor that the Briton is under investigation. The wear pads, arranged under the car, were measured by the FIA ​​following the Chinese Grand Prix, and the rear pad showed a thickness between 8,5 and 8,6 mm.

The technical regulations of the world championship stipulate that the pads must measure a minimum of 9 mm. The stewards confirmed the measurements of the team of Jo Bauer, technical delegate of the FIA, and therefore the disqualification. Lewis Hamilton had already suffered the same mishap in Austin in 2023. During the United States Grand Prix, the thickness of the worn pads of his Mercedes was already too weak, which led to his disqualification. Charles Leclerc, who was already piloting for Ferrari at the time, had suffered the same fate. The two men were once again disqualified together from a Grand Prix, this time as teammates. This had the effect of losing 18 points to Ferrari, and increasing the gap between the Italian team and McLaren, who leads the constructors' championship.

Esteban Ocon (Haas) climbs to fifth place in this Chinese Grand Prix, while Carlos Sainz scored his first point with Williams.

Excessive wear on the pads can come from repeated passages over the kerbs, from contact or from a simple assembly error before the Grand Prix.

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