A red Ferrari Formula 1 car racing on a wet track under rainy conditions, leaving a trail of water spray behind. The race takes place at a large modern circuit with a grandstand full of spectators. In the background, the Shanghai skyline and the Oriental Pearl Tower are visible, indicating the race is held in China.

F1: Why the Chinese Grand Prix turned into a disaster for Ferrari

The season has just begun, and Ferrari has already managed to turn a potential podium into a full-blown disaster. In Shanghai this weekend, it wasn’t the pace of the red cars that stood out — it was their technical blunders. And I’ll be honest: I’m still trying to process what happened.

A weekend that started with promise

Lewis Hamilton had every reason to be proud. His first pole for Ferrari, followed by a dominant sprint race win. Ferrari seemed back on track. But then came Sunday — and everything fell apart.

The outcome? Double disqualification. Hamilton’s floor was too worn; Leclerc’s car was underweight. Ferrari admitted a “genuine error.” But I can’t help wondering: how does such a seasoned team let this happen?

A season already off-balance

Losing 18 points dropped Ferrari 61 points behind McLaren. And it’s only race two.

Team principal Fred Vasseur kept his cool. No finger-pointing, no panic. But internally, confidence takes a hit. Drivers feel it. Engineers feel it. Fans feel it too — I certainly did.

Repeated mistakes

It’s not the first time. Remember Austin 2023? Excessive plank wear again. Lessons learned? Apparently not.

Ferrari seems to flirt too closely with technical limits, hoping to gain a few tenths. But it’s a gamble that keeps backfiring.

Is it time for a reset?

This isn’t just a setup issue. Ferrari is caught between two paths: push innovation or play it safe.

Was it poor tire anticipation? A desire to prove they can challenge Red Bull? I’m asking myself that all week.

What now: bounce back or break down?

The next races are crucial. Vasseur must rebuild the team — technically and mentally. Every mistake now hurts twice as much. In a tight championship, there’s no room for error.


Do you think Ferrari can bounce back and fight for the title this year?

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