Chinese Grand Prix result set to change as two F1 stars face being disqualified

FIA scrutineers found after the Chinese Grand Prix that two cars were underweight compared to the rules and, usually, that means disqualification looms for the drivers

Two drivers are set to be disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix. Checks after the race found two cars which were underweight according to the Formula 1 technical regulations and, as a result, both their drivers are likely to be disqualified.

FIA rules demand that the total weight of a car and driver together is not lower than 800kg at the end of a race. However, the cars belonging to Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were found to be in breach of that rule.

The Ferrari of Leclerc lost its front wing endplate during the race in a collision with Lewis Hamilton. However, teams are allowed to replace such parts like for like when it comes to calculating the weight and, even having done so, Leclerc’s machine was still too light.

FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer said: “After the race, car number 16 [Leclerc] was weighed and its weight was 800.0 kg, which is the minimum weight required by TR Article 4.1. As the front wing was damaged (the missing FW endplate was recovered and weighed with the car), the car was re-weighed with an official spare front wing assembly of car 16 and its weight was 800.5 kg.

“After this, fuel was drained out of the car and 2.0 litres of fuel were removed. The car was drained according to the draining procedure submitted by the team in their legality document. The car was weighed again on the FIA scales (with the official spare front wing assembly of car 16) and the weight was 799.0 kg. For information, the spare front wing was 0.2 kg heavier than the damaged one used during the race.”

As this is 1.0 kg below the minimum weight requested in TR Article 4.1, which also has to be respected at all times during the Competition, I am referring this matter to the Stewards for their consideration.”

Bauer also said Gasly’s Alpine had come in one kilogram underweight, which meant he too was reported. Soon after, the stewards confirmed that both drivers had been summoned to a hearing.

Disqualification is the likely outcome for both drivers, based on precedent in this sort of situation. George Russell was stripped of his victory at last year’s Belgian Grand Prix after his Mercedes came in underweight during post-race checks.

Leclerc finished fifth on the road but that result is now likely to be inherited by team-mate Hamilton, who was one place behind him when he took the chequered flag. Gasly finished outside the points anyway and so his disqualification will be inconsequential in terms of the championship standings.