As another Formula 1 season kicks off at Albert Park with the Australian Grand Prix, it’s a perfect time to revisit one of the most dramatic moments in the race’s history Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification from the 2009 Australian Grand Prix.

The reigning World Champion at the time, Hamilton’s podium finish was ultimately erased after an FIA investigation revealed misleading statements from McLaren.

But how did it all unfold?

The Chaos of the 2009 Australian Grand Prix

Before the season even began, Formula 1 was already embroiled in controversy. McLaren and Renault had threatened to boycott the season opener, citing unpaid funds that were contingent on signing the new Concorde Agreement.

Eventually, both teams decided to race, but another issue emerged concerns over Brawn, Toyota, and Williams’ new diffusers. Although initially deemed legal, the debate raged on.

When the race began, Jenson Button led the field for Brawn GP, avoiding the chaos that erupted behind him.

His teammate Rubens Barrichello stalled at the start, setting off a chain reaction that saw Mark Webber’s Red Bull collide with Heikki Kovalainen’s McLaren, with Adrian Sutil and Nick Heidfeld also caught in the wreckage.

The race was further disrupted by two safety car appearances first for Kazuki Nakajima’s crash on Lap 18, and then for a dramatic collision between Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica on Lap 56.

Vettel, attempting to continue with a broken wheel, eventually stopped between Turns 10 and 11, forcing the race to end under caution.

Button secured his first victory on the road to his eventual World Championship, leading a Brawn 1-2 finish.

Behind them, Jarno Trulli (Toyota) took third place, but his podium finish was immediately put under scrutiny after he was suspected of passing Lewis Hamilton under safety car conditions a violation of Article 40.14 of the 2009 regulations.

It wasn’t long before Trulli received a 25-second penalty, dropping him from third to 12th, while Hamilton was promoted to the podium. But this was only the beginning of the controversy.

Hamilton’s Disqualification: The Fallout from Misleading the FIA

Following the race, Toyota appealed Trulli’s penalty, though the regulations prevented time penalties from being overturned if issued within the final five laps.

The matter was escalated to the International Court of Appeal, where new evidence turned the case upside down.

On April 2, 2009, both Trulli and Hamilton were summoned to appear before the FIA. The game-changer? Radio transmissions from McLaren’s garage.

The recordings did not contain any instructions for Hamilton to slow down and let Trulli pass contradicting both Hamilton’s and McLaren’s previous statements.

The FIA was furious.

In an official statement, the FIA declared that Hamilton and McLaren had misled race officials, stating:

“The stewards, having learned about the radio exchanges and the media interview, felt strongly that they had been misled by the driver and his team manager.”

Adding to the controversy, neither Hamilton nor McLaren had corrected the record, even after knowing Trulli was being penalized unfairly.

As a result, Hamilton was disqualified from the race, McLaren lost its constructors’ points, and team sporting director Dave Ryan was fired.

McLaren also received a suspended three-race ban, meaning any similar infraction within 12 months would see them barred from competition. Team principal Martin Whitmarsh defended McLaren, saying:

“There is no implication that Lewis lied to the stewards… What they believe is that the omission of the information about the radio communication between the team was withheld and that is misleading.”

With Spygate the 2007 scandal where McLaren was caught with Ferrari trade secrets still fresh in everyone’s minds, the team’s reputation took another major hit.

Facing immense backlash, a 24-year-old Hamilton publicly apologized, stating:

“I could not tell you how sorry I am for the embarrassment… I sincerely apologize to the race stewards for wasting their time and making them look silly.”

He continued:

“I want to say sorry to all my fans. I am not a liar or a dishonest person, I am a team player. If the team asks me to do something, I generally do it. But I felt awkward and uncomfortable.”

Despite the controversy, Hamilton still managed to win two races that season (Hungary and Singapore) and finished fifth in the World Drivers’ Championship, while McLaren secured third in the Constructors’ standings.

Hamilton’s 2023 Disqualification: A Different Story, Same Result

The 2009 Australian Grand Prix wasn’t the only time Hamilton has been disqualified from a race. In 2023, at the United States Grand Prix, he faced a similar fate—though for vastly different reasons.

The Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is known for its bumpy surface, and teams were already concerned about the impact on their cars. That concern became reality when Hamilton, after finishing second, was later disqualified for a technical violation.

The FIA’s post-race inspection found excessive wear on his car’s skid block, which is designed to ensure compliance with ride height regulations. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc suffered the same issue and was also disqualified.

Although technical disqualifications are routine, it was still a bitter pill for Hamilton, especially after a strong podium finish in what had been a challenging season for Mercedes.

While the 2009 Australian GP disqualification was a result of misleading race officials, the 2023 United States GP disqualification was purely technical.

Both incidents, however, serve as reminders of how ruthless and unforgiving Formula 1 can be.

In 2009, Hamilton was thrust into controversy over what McLaren failed to disclose, while in 2023, he was a victim of strict FIA technical regulations.

But through all the highs and lows, Hamilton has remained one of the sport’s greatest drivers, proving that even moments of disqualification can’t overshadow a legacy built on pure racing talent.

Mercedes is entering a new chapter in Formula 1, with 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli stepping in to replace the legendary Lewis Hamilton.

With Hamilton’s move to Ferrari confirmed for 2025, team principal Toto Wolff had major decisions to make regarding the future of the team.

Initially, Wolff considered a straight swap with Carlos Sainz, but the Spaniard ultimately signed with Williams.

Max Verstappen was another potential target, but the reigning four-time world champion remained committed to Red Bull.

This left Antonelli with the monumental task of stepping into Hamilton’s shoes a challenge he’s determined to take on without direct comparisons to the seven-time world champion.

Despite his young age and lack of F1 race experience, Antonelli has already shown flashes of brilliance in pre-season testing.

Completing thousands of miles across multiple sessions in Bahrain, he quickly caught the attention of the paddock with a standout performance.

Kimi Antonelli ‘Turned a Lot of Heads’ with Bahrain Race Simulation

During an episode of the Unlapped Podcast, journalist Laurence Edmondson shared insights on Antonelli’s impressive showing in Bahrain.

“I’ve been incredibly impressed by Antonelli because one of the reasons that a lot of people have them as the second-fastest [team] was his race simulation from the second day of testing,” Edmondson said.

“That’s an opportunity to really understand where the cars are because they’re not just running on low fuel and doing single laps, they’ve got to start with a race tank of fuel and they burn it down.

“So, it’s a lot easier to make comparisons. There are still lots of variables that can lead you astray. But either way, the Mercedes looked like it was on pace with the Ferrari.

“And that’s impressive in itself if you think where Mercedes were last year. But that was a Mercedes being driven by Kimi Antonelli in what was his first proper race simulation on actual Pirelli tyres.

“So, he was able to do that and keep pace with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in roughly the same conditions, and I think that turned a lot of heads.

“And I think a lot of people thought, well, that is impressive.”

Antonelli’s ability to match Leclerc’s pace in a race simulation suggests that Mercedes might be much closer to the front of the grid than expected.

However, skepticism remains about how their performance will translate to actual race conditions.

Mercedes Faces Uncertainty Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix

Despite the strong testing results, questions linger over whether Mercedes can maintain this form when racing gets underway in Melbourne.

Edmondson pointed out that the cool conditions in Bahrain may have played a role in their impressive pace.

“Their testing form looked really very good. We put them, I think, third, but you could put an argument together to say they were the second-fastest team behind McLaren.

“The reason we’re still a little bit sceptical is because the conditions were unusually cold in Bahrain. One thing we learned about the Mercedes last year is that when the conditions were cold, the car came alive.

“So if we turn up in a hot Melbourne—I think the forecast is quite hot—will that performance just bleed away like it did so often last year?”

The pressure is now on George Russell, who steps into the role of team leader in Hamilton’s absence. Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz believes Russell has what it takes to secure a podium finish at the Australian Grand Prix.

However, given Antonelli’s rapid adaptation in Bahrain, it would be unwise to count out the rookie from making an impact in his F1 debut.

As the new season begins, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see if Antonelli’s pre-season promise can translate into real race-day results.

When Ferrari made its bold move to sign Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, it dominated the headlines. But alongside the seven-time world champion, the Scuderia also secured the services of Loïc Serra as technical director chassis and, more quietly, Jérôme d’Ambrosio.

While his arrival didn’t create the same media frenzy, d’Ambrosio is already making a significant impact behind the scenes.

The Perfect Fit for Ferrari

Described by team principal Fred Vasseur as having “the perfect profile”, d’Ambrosio took on the role of deputy team principal and head of the Ferrari Driver Academy in October 2023.

His experience in both racing and team management makes him an ideal lieutenant for Vasseur as Ferrari undergoes a transformation ahead of Hamilton’s arrival in 2025.

From Driver to Team Leader

D’Ambrosio’s journey to his current position is an interesting one. Best known for his brief Formula 1 career in 2011-12, during which he made 20 Grand Prix starts, he transitioned to team management after retiring from driving in 2020 following a successful stint in Formula E. He first took charge of Venturi Racing, where he quickly impressed, before Mercedes recruited him in 2023 to lead its young driver program.

A Key Ally for Hamilton

His move to Ferrari last October positioned him as an influential figure within the team, especially when Hamilton arrived in Maranello in January.

Given their shared Mercedes connection, d’Ambrosio is an obvious ally for Hamilton as he integrates into his new team.

While he may not be making the same headlines as Hamilton, his presence is already being felt at Ferrari and his behind-the-scenes influence could be a crucial factor in helping the team take the next step in their quest for championship glory.

“Lewis doesn’t need any help to be introduced into a team or get to know people,” said d’Ambrosio when asked by The Race about the role he played in helping Hamilton to adapt to Ferrari. “He’s quite amazing with people and the team already loved him after the first day. 

“The areas where it’s been perhaps quite useful is already knowing his [support] team. A driver doesn’t come alone to a team, they have their own team, their own management, people around them. I have already interacted with them in a past life.

“I guess in that respect it was quite easy to know where the expectations were and what’s the background and what can already be plug-in-and-play and what had to be approached slightly differently based on a different environment.”

At 39 years old, d’Ambrosio’s involvement in Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari is more of a side effect than a primary responsibility. His main focus lies in his broader duties as Fred Vasseur’s deputy, a key role within Ferrari’s leadership structure. This position has long been integral to the team, previously held by Laurent Mekies—now Racing Bulls’ team principal—between 2021 and 2023.

With experience leading Venturi Racing in Formula E, d’Ambrosio is far more than just a former driver stepping into management. His skillset extends well beyond his racing career, bringing strategic and leadership expertise to Ferrari. As for Hamilton’s arrival, he emphasizes that his time behind the wheel is just one piece of the experience that informs his approach to the role.

“One has to be careful,” he says of the contribution of his driving experience.”It’s easier for me than most people to build empathy for what a driver goes through and in that way, understand the dynamics between driver, team, what happens when you’re in the car and so on.

“But that’s where I need to draw the line, and where it’s really important to draw the line because Lewis and Charles [Leclerc] are some of the best drivers Formula 1 has seen, Lewis is the most successful driver F1 has seen, they don’t have anything to learn from anyone in terms of driving.

“One of the potential things I personally don’t [want to] fall into the trap of is what you sometimes hear from ex-drivers is ‘back in my day it was like this or I used to do this or that’. That’s absolutely not the case. The only thing that is relevant is the ability to build that empathy in an easier way.”

So what does d’Ambrosio’s role involve? He expects to attend 18 races, starting with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, then skipping the second race in China because “it’s highly inefficient”. The plan for the rest of the season is malleable and while his role at the track is important, he also has a key role at Maranello.

“The goal with Fred is to be complementary,” says d’Ambrosio. “I will be at the first race but we don’t want to leave the factory uncovered for too long, so we’ll split like that and I’ll be the one that will stay some of the races at home and be in the factory. Obviously the exact number of races will depend on how our 2026 project is evolving and we’ll decide a little bit towards the end on that last leg of flyaways how we want to handle it.”

The plan is for d’Ambrosio and Vasseur to divide responsibilities, with d’Ambrosio serving as a true second-in-command to the Ferrari team principal. Whether this sets him up as a potential successor when Vasseur eventually moves on remains uncertain and will likely depend on how he develops in the role. For now, the focus is on building a strong partnership with Vasseur—an affable yet fiercely competitive leader.

“The way we work and the way we operate with Fred – and it’s been like that from day one – is we split the tasks,” says d’Ambrosio. “There’s no real perimeter. I will have topics on my desk that will go from purely engineering to performance to finance to HR, whatever the topics of the TP are. We split it like that.

“We’re able to work like that because we’re in very close proximity. We have our offices in front of one another, we probably speak 20 times a day so it works. There’s no plan to evolve that at the moment because it works really well.”

D’Ambrosio also confirmed that the split will involve him taking on some media tasks, as well as dealing with drivers and engineers. It’s a broad role that touches on all aspects of the team principal job, given that a big part of his value is in lightening the massive load on Vasseur

“A race weekend is filled with different things for a team principal from commercial to performance,” says d’Ambrosio. “The reason why I ended up joining Ferrari and had the opportunity is because Fred was a bit stretched thin at some points and I’ll be supporting him with every possible task that he needs support with.”

It’s clear he has Vasseur’s confidence. A great strength of Vasseur’s has been giving clear direction and then delegating to those who work with him, meaning that he is sure to make effective use of d’Ambrosio.

“Jerome will be important [and] add value to the team,” says Vasseur. “He has the perfect profile for me; very transferable knowledge of business, he was a team principal, he was a driver in F1, he has the experience from Mercedes. He’ll help us. He’ll help me a lot in the situation of the team and the evolution of the management. It will be a huge step forward and the first couple of months of collaboration are already positive.”

D’Ambrosio’s F1 driving career

D’Ambrosio’s time as an F1 driver was short-lived, consisting of a full season with Virgin in 2011 and a one-off appearance for Lotus at Monza in 2012, stepping in for the suspended Romain Grosjean.

His final Italian Grand Prix outing had the potential for a points finish, but an early KERS failure after six laps hampered his performance. Despite the setback, he showcased strong race pace and secured 13th place, marking his best F1 result.

The fact that a non-points finish was his career best was more a reflection of the 2011 Virgin’s limitations than D’Ambrosio’s abilities. That season was a challenging one for the team, as they parted ways with technical director Nick Wirth early on and halted car development to shift focus to the 2012 design.

As a result, the car was difficult to handle, especially with the introduction of high-degradation Pirelli tyres, making it far from ideal conditions for a rookie trying to make an impact.

Still, there were some standout moments. D’Ambrosio managed to outqualify his more experienced teammate, Timo Glock, on a couple of occasions, notably in China and Turkey. However, he faced a setback in Canada, where a crash in Friday practice damaged his chassis

D’Ambrosio’s time as an F1 driver was short-lived, consisting of a full season with Virgin in 2011 and a single stand-in appearance for Lotus at Monza in 2012, replacing the suspended Romain Grosjean.

That one-off race at the Italian Grand Prix had the potential for a points finish, but an early KERS failure after six laps cost him valuable lap time. Still, he impressed with his race pace and managed to secure 13th place, marking his best-ever F1 result.

The fact that his best result was a non-points finish was more a reflection of the 2011 Virgin’s limitations than D’Ambrosio’s ability. It was a challenging season for the team, which parted ways with technical director Nick Wirth early on and halted development on the car to shift focus to the 2012 project.

As a result, the car was difficult to handle, especially with the introduction of high-degradation Pirelli tires, making it a tough environment for a rookie to showcase his talent.

Despite the struggles, D’Ambrosio had some standout moments. He outqualified his experienced teammate, Timo Glock, on a couple of occasions, notably in China and Turkey. However, his progress hit a bump in Canada, where a crash in Friday practice damaged the chassis, setting him back for the weekend.

D’Ambrosio recovered well from his setback in Canada and put together a solid run of performances in the latter half of the season. His standout moment came in Japan, where he delivered an excellent qualifying lap, once again outpacing Glock. He also put in a strong race performance in Singapore, showing his resilience.

However, his efforts ultimately weren’t enough to secure a higher finish than 14th all season. He struggled in India and Abu Dhabi but ended his campaign on a high in Brazil, where he outqualified and outraced Glock in their final showdown as teammates.

Despite his promising performances, Virgin opted to replace him with Charles Pic for the following season. Still, D’Ambrosio left a positive impression with his professionalism and intelligent approach, even if he lacked the standout pace to cement a long-term F1 seat.

His reputation within the paddock remained strong, as evidenced by his three-year stint as a reserve driver for Renault/Lotus in 2010 and 2012-13, before shifting his focus to Formula E

Brundle: Why Hamilton won’t buckle under pressure at Ferrari

Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle is confident that Lewis Hamilton’s extensive experience will help him navigate the intense pressure that comes with driving for Ferrari.

Hamilton’s high-profile move to Maranello has been the talk of the Formula 1 paddock for over a year, and now, with pre-season testing behind him, he’s fully focused on chasing an eighth world title with his new team.

However, racing for Ferrari is unlike any other challenge in F1. The team is more than just a competitor—it’s a national institution in Italy, with its drivers regarded as national heroes. This level of prestige comes with an unparalleled level of scrutiny, as the passionate Tifosi and global media analyze every lap, every qualifying session, and every race.

Even the slightest setback or underperformance can be magnified, making Ferrari both an exhilarating and high-pressure environment.

Yet, despite this, Brundle believes the 40-year-old Brit will handle the expectations with ease. With his wealth of experience and a trusted support team around him, Hamilton is set to embrace this new chapter with calm confidence, ready to take on whatever challenges come his way.

“I don’t think Lewis will feel any pressure,” Brundle said. “He’s been there, seen it, done it, won it. Won seven championships.

“He will not succumb to that ‘My goodness, I am a Ferrari driver, the expectation is high’”.

Ferrari’s near-miss in last year’s constructors’ championship will only add to Lewis Hamilton’s determination to deliver success in his debut season with the team.

However, Sky F1’s Martin Brundle believes the seven-time world champion remains unmoved by the hype, prepared to rely on his wealth of experience as he steps into the Ferrari spotlight.

Navigating Ferrari’s Inner Circle

While Hamilton isn’t embarking on this journey alone, he faces a formidable challenge in teammate Charles Leclerc, who has become deeply ingrained in the Ferrari system.

“Leclerc has been there six, seven years. He knows where all the green buttons are, knows how to make things happen at Ferrari,” Brundle pointed out.

Leclerc’s longstanding ties with the team give him a natural advantage, especially as Hamilton has to adjust to a completely new environment. One notable absence in Hamilton’s camp is his trusted race engineer, Peter Bonnington, who has remained with Mercedes.

However, the Brit has ensured he’s not completely without familiar faces. He has enlisted physiotherapist Angela Cullen, a key figure from his Mercedes championship-winning years, and manager Marc Hynes to help him settle into his new surroundings.

With his signature resilience and a seasoned support team, Hamilton is set to take on the Ferrari challenge head-on, undeterred by the intensity of the Scuderia’s expectations.

“Lewis is new in. He’s taken along with him Angela again now, his physio and Marc Hynes is back with him,” Brundle observed.

“Lewis has put as much around him as he can, knowing he’s going into a completely different culture of a team and he’s got to find his way.”

Even with a new engineer and a teammate as swift and settled as Leclerc, Brundle’s betting on Hamilton’s resilience.

“That’s a lot to take onboard, especially when your teammate in Leclerc is so fast and so embedded in the team,” he acknowledged.

But Hamilton is far from inexperienced his career has been defined by his ability to adapt and excel in any situation.

As he arrives in Melbourne this weekend, backed by his trusted inner circle and fueled by years of championship-winning experience, Brundle’s assessment seems right on the mark. This isn’t a driver who will falter under Ferrari’s intense spotlight.

Instead, Hamilton is ready to make a statement, turning heads and pursuing history—one measured, confident lap at a time.