Hamilton Reflects on Car Set-Up Struggles and Disqualification

Hamilton Reflects on Car Set-Up Struggles and Disqualification at the Chinese GP

Lewis Hamilton has pledged to learn from the set-up changes made after the Sprint race, which he admitted left his car feeling “terrible” during the Chinese Grand Prix. The seven-time World Champion struggled to match the pace of his rivals and initially finished in sixth place before being disqualified due to a technical infringement.

Hamilton’s weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. He caused a surprise by securing pole position during Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, then followed up with a victory in Saturday’s Sprint race—his first win for Ferrari. However, the main Grand Prix on Sunday proved far more challenging.

Lining up in fifth on the grid, Hamilton made contact with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc on the opening lap. He opted for a two-stop strategy, which differed from many of the front-runners, but despite setting several fastest laps in the final phase of the race, he was unable to recover the time lost during his second pit stop. As a result, he crossed the finish line in sixth place.

After the race, however, a routine technical inspection found that the rearmost skid block on Hamilton’s car was worn below the minimum 9mm thickness required by regulations. This breach led to his disqualification, costing both Hamilton and Ferrari valuable championship points.

Speaking before learning of his disqualification, Hamilton reflected on his struggles during the Grand Prix. “I feel okay. I wasn’t able to get the result that I was hoping for today,” he said. “I needed a good start—which I got—and I was trying to see if I could move forward, but I just didn’t have the pace of the cars ahead.

“And just in terms of balance, we made changes after the Sprint race, and the car was terrible after that. I really struggled from then on.”

When asked if understanding the impact of the set-up changes would help him take positives from the weekend—especially given his strong Sprint performance—Hamilton remained optimistic. “Yeah, definitely. I think it’s good learnings, and hopefully, we won’t do that again as I continue to understand this car,” he said. “There are definitely positives to take from the weekend.”

Despite his disqualification, Hamilton acknowledged the bigger challenge facing Ferrari in the championship battle. “Obviously, we’re losing ground to McLaren in the points standings, as well as to Mercedes and [Max] Verstappen, but we just have to keep pushing.”

With the loss of the 18 points Hamilton had originally earned in the race, Ferrari’s total in the Teams’ standings dropped to 17, widening the gap to McLaren, who now lead with 78 points. The setback leaves the Scuderia with work to do as they aim to close the deficit in the coming races.

While the disqualification was a disappointment, Hamilton’s performance in the Sprint race showcased his potential with Ferrari. However, as he continues to adapt to his new car, he and the team will need to fine-tune their approach to ensure they maximize performance across an entire race weekend.