Following the disqualifications of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix, Bernie Collins from Sky Sports F1 provides an in-depth analysis of the events and their future implications.
Leclerc`s car was found to be 1kg lighter than the minimum weight limit of 800kg, while Hamilton`s car exhibited excessive wear on the plank underneath, exceeding the limit by half a millimetre.
Both drivers initially finished fifth and sixth in the race, but Ferrari ultimately left Sunday`s Grand Prix without scoring any points.
Set-up Changes and Hamilton`s Disqualification
Hamilton secured a Sprint victory on Saturday, but Ferrari, like other teams, adjusted car setups for Sunday`s main race.
Bernie Collins explains: “It`s common practice to adjust the setup after the Sprint race because teams know they won`t be running with 100kg of fuel in the Sprint.”
“These adjustments can include raising the ride height to accommodate the higher fuel load for the main race.”
“The key difference from the Austin incident two years ago [where Hamilton was also disqualified] is that setup changes between the Sprint and the main race were not permitted then. Consequently, teams couldn`t react to plank wear observed during the Sprint.”
“In the Sprint, drivers managed their tires more due to running on hard tires for more laps, whereas in the main race with medium tires, there was less management. This could explain increased wear and fuel consumption in the main race.”
Impact of Hamilton`s Two-Stop Strategy on Plank Wear
Hamilton was the only driver in the top 10 to opt for a two-stop strategy, starting on medium tires and switching to hard tires on lap 13 and again on lap 37 of the 56-lap race.
Bernie Collins notes: “A two-stop strategy typically involves more aggressive driving each lap. However, for Lewis, using hard tires for two stints might have introduced a graining phase, which can slightly control pace.”
“Another factor for Lewis could be potential damage from the incident with Leclerc. The FIA stated there were `no mitigating circumstances,` and Ferrari couldn`t prove damage or downforce loss, which they would have attempted if possible.”
“Regarding Leclerc, who used a one-stop strategy, there was speculation about its viability due to unknown hard tire wear. Teams are allowed to account for tire pick-up, and Ferrari did change Leclerc`s front wing.”
“The source of Leclerc`s weight loss remains unclear.”
Ferrari`s Car Design and Ride Height Sensitivity
Following the Australian Grand Prix, rumors suggested Ferrari increased their car`s ride height to limit plank wear. While the team hasn`t addressed these claims, Hamilton`s disqualification a week later has drawn attention.
Bernie Collins comments: “Raising car height in Australia is standard due to the track`s bumps, which negatively affect downforce and plank wear.”
“Ferrari`s performance in Australia wasn`t exceptional, partly due to strategy and qualifying. This might indicate their car is highly sensitive to ride height concerning aerodynamic performance. While all ground-effect cars are sensitive, Ferrari`s might be excessively so.”
“It`s surprising if the Sprint race in China didn`t provide sufficient data to foresee potential plank wear issues for the main race.”
“If Ferrari`s car has a `peaky` ride height, meaning optimal aerodynamic performance is within a very narrow ride height range, it poses a significant challenge.”
“Teams aim for cars that perform well across a range of ride heights to suit various track conditions. For instance, Austria`s severe kerbs necessitate increased ride height.”
“Perhaps their aerodynamic platform is too sensitive.”
Ferrari`s Response for Suzuka
Bernie Collins states: “Ultimately, ensuring car legality is the race engineer`s responsibility. Each car`s engineer is accountable for its legality.”
“Ferrari will investigate the reasons for both weight and plank wear infringements. It would be insightful to know if Leclerc`s car was plank wear legal. Hamilton`s car weight was legal, as all cars are checked for weight. Leclerc`s plank wear wasn`t checked.”
“Teams monitor car bottoming out. Ferrari will review their procedures to identify the cause of exceeding limits and determine necessary adjustments.”
“No team intentionally sets up a car to be illegally worn, hoping to evade checks.”
Implications for Hamilton-Ferrari Engineer Relationship
Bernie Collins suggests: “This incident is a setback. Following a questionable strategy in Australia and now a disqualification in China, Ferrari needs to improve. The strategy for Hamilton in China, potentially a second pit stop, may also have been flawed.”
“Hamilton struggled on Sunday, and the car was illegal. Setup changes didn`t yield the desired performance, contributing to his slower race pace and the car`s illegality.”
“This is a bump in the road. If Ferrari identifies and rectifies the issues, Hamilton can move past it quickly. However, repeated incidents like strategy missteps, radio issues, and now disqualification can erode driver trust.”
“When Sebastian Vettel joined Aston Martin, building his trust was crucial. Drivers need to trust team calls implicitly. Consistent errors can undermine this trust.”
