Lewis Hamilton finished sixth in the Chinese Grand Prix after a challenging race, but his result was later wiped out due to a post-race inspection failure.

The Ferrari driver was disqualified because his SF-25’s rear skid blocks were found to be just “0.5mm below the limit.”

To highlight how marginal this infraction was, Sky Sports F1 reporter Craig Slater demonstrated using an ID card. “This is your ID pass. Less than the width of this is the margin by which Lewis Hamilton has been disqualified from the Grand Prix today. But they have to draw the line somewhere.”

Hamilton wasn’t the only driver to be disqualified. His Ferrari team-mate, Charles Leclerc, was also removed from the final classification after his car was found to be “1kg under the minimum weight.” Alpine’s Pierre Gasly suffered the same fate, compounding the drama of the post-race inspections.

A Costly Blow for Ferrari

The double disqualification was a disaster for Ferrari and team principal Fred Vasseur. The Italian outfit has collected just 17 points across two Grands Prix and a sprint race, placing them fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, tied with Williams.

In the Drivers’ Championship, the outlook is equally bleak for Ferrari’s drivers. Hamilton and Leclerc sit ninth and tenth, with just nine and eight points, respectively.

Meanwhile, Lando Norris has surged to the top of the standings with “44 points from the opening two rounds.”

In response to the disqualifications, Ferrari issued a statement: “Following the FIA post-race scrutineering, both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons. Car 16 was found to be underweight by 1kg, and car 44’s rearward skid wear was found to be 0.5mm below the limit.”

The team explained the reasoning behind the infractions, stating: “Charles was on a one-stop strategy today and this meant his tyre wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight. With regard to Lewis’ skid wear, we misjudged the consumption by a small margin. There was no intention to gain any advantage.”

Ferrari remains determined to move past the controversy, adding: “We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. Clearly, it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend, neither for ourselves nor for our fans whose support for us is unwavering.”

Despite the disappointment on Sunday, Vasseur can take some encouragement from Hamilton’s performance in the sprint race.

The seven-time world champion claimed his first victory as a Ferrari driver, standing on the top step of the podium ahead of Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.

While the Shanghai Grand Prix ended in frustration, Ferrari now turns its focus to bouncing back stronger in the next round of the championship.

Formula 1’s big boss, Stefano Domenicali, sat down with Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday to chew over the idea of a Thai Grand Prix.

With the sport riding a wave of global hype, the ex-Ferrari chief fresh off a contract extension to 2029 wants to tap into new markets, and Thailand’s raising its hand.

The F1 calendar’s packed with 24 races, most locked in for years, but cracks are forming. Domenicali hinted last weekend that Thailand’s in the mix to snag a spot as slots free up down the road.

Post-meeting, Shinawatra didn’t waste time. She announced Thailand’s kicking off a feasibility study to weigh the ups and downs think costs and track options.

“It’s not just about the honour of hosting the race, but also a significant opportunity to develop urban infrastructure, welcome tourists from around the world to Thailand and develop industry and service sectors,” she posted on X.

Thailand’s Racing Dreams

Thailand’s no stranger to motorsport the Buriram track in the northeast kicked off the MotoGP season this month. But F1? That’s uncharted territory for the kingdom.

Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said Shinawatra assured Domenicali that Thailand’s ready to team up with F1 brass to figure out the logistics.

Last April, Domenicali chatted with then-PM Srettha Thavisin, who pitched a street race weaving through Bangkok’s bustling, historic heart a “soft power” play to boost Thailand’s global vibe.

They’re not alone in the race, though. France and Germany want back in, and Turkey—last on the calendar in 2021 is itching for a comeback.

The Asia-Pacific’s already got Australia, China, Japan, and Singapore, plus Thai driver Alex Albon tearing it up for Williams with a fifth-place finish in Melbourne.

For now, it’s early days. But with studies underway and talks rolling, Thailand’s Grand Prix dreams are picking up speed.

Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated debut with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix ended with a tenth-place finish.

While the seven-time world champion had a relatively uneventful race, a combination of strategic missteps, challenging track conditions, and some bad luck prevented him from securing a far better result.

How Hamilton’s First Ferrari Race Unfolded

Hamilton started the race from eighth place, maintaining his qualifying position off the line. Meanwhile, his teammate Charles Leclerc made an impressive start, overtaking Yuki Tsunoda and Alexander Albon to climb to fifth.

The race saw an early safety car deployment following incidents involving Jack Doohan and Carlos Sainz, but Hamilton’s race remained steady, if unspectacular, until lap 34.

For much of the race, Hamilton found himself stuck behind Albon and Tsunoda, unable to make significant progress.

In the tricky track conditions, he appeared focused on bringing the car home safely rather than taking unnecessary risks.

However, Ferrari’s strategy and race engineers struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving Hamilton unable to challenge for a higher position.

Missed Opportunities and Challenges

Despite the lack of on-track drama, Hamilton’s debut highlighted the potential for stronger performances in the future.

The difficult conditions and strategic challenges underscored the learning curve for both Hamilton and Ferrari as they adapt to their new partnership.

While the result may not have met expectations, the race provided valuable insights and experience for the team moving forward.

As Hamilton continues to settle into his new role with Ferrari, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the partnership evolves over the course of the season.

The Australian Grand Prix may not have been the dream start many hoped for, but it marks the beginning of a new chapter in Hamilton’s storied career.

However, a second safety car, prompted by Fernando Alonso’s crash, gave all drivers the chance to switch to slick tires without losing time.

Although more rain was forecasted, the intermediate tires were already heavily worn, making it extremely challenging to keep the cars on track. Alonso’s incident occurred while he was pushing hard to catch Pierre Gasly, highlighting the precarious conditions.

After switching to the hard tires, Hamilton struggled to make progress on the restart, remaining stuck behind Alexander Albon and Yuki Tsunoda.

However, the real turning point came when heavier rain arrived in Sector 3, creating chaos and presenting a missed opportunity for Ferrari and Hamilton.

The rain hit hardest in the final sector, where Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen were battling for the lead. Piastri, under pressure from Verstappen for second place, made a costly mistake by running wide at Turn 11.

Attempting to recover, he went off again at Turn 13, ending up stuck in the grass.

The conditions in the final corners of the Albert Park circuit became extremely treacherous. However, deciding how to respond was far from straightforward, as the rain was localized and not expected to last long. This led to a mix of strategies across the grid.

Several drivers, including Norris, George Russell, Albon, Lance Stroll, Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hülkenberg, and Gabriel Bortoleto, opted to pit for intermediate tires.

This gamble paid off handsomely, as they gained significant positions. Bortoleto, however, made a mistake at Turn 12 and hit the wall, prompting another Safety Car deployment. Those who pitted on lap 44 reaped the rewards, securing valuable points.

Meanwhile, Verstappen, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, and Charles Leclerc stayed out on slick tires. Ferrari’s critical error was delaying Hamilton’s pit stop by two laps, causing him to lose positions unnecessarily, including to Gasly.

Had Ferrari made a well-timed stop, Hamilton could have challenged for fourth place, a position ultimately secured by his Mercedes replacement, Antonelli. In hindsight, Hamilton’s frustration is understandable, but the decision was far from easy.

Ferrari may have been aiming for a different strategy, hoping to capitalize on a potential red flag or a 1-2 finish if Hamilton had taken the lead.

Ultimately, the race highlighted the fine margins and tough calls that define Formula 1, leaving Hamilton and Ferrari to reflect on what might have been.

But it was that split-second decision a simple call to the pit box that made all the difference.

Instead of fighting for a podium spot against his former teammate George Russell, Hamilton found himself behind an Aston Martin and a Kick Sauber, teams that hadn’t been in contention until that moment.

This is the thrilling essence of Formula 1 strategy and the sport itself, where milliseconds and quick thinking can change everything.

After finally pitting for intermediate tires, Hamilton found himself in ninth place with just seven laps remaining, ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc, who had spun earlier in the race, lost positions and ultimately fell behind Hamilton. While the result was far from ideal, it underscored the fine margins and high-stakes decisions that define Formula 1, leaving Hamilton and Ferrari to reflect on what could have been.

However, it didn’t take long for Charles Leclerc to reclaim his position. The Monegasque driver overtook Hamilton just one lap after the restart, dropping the British driver to 10th.

Both Hamilton and Leclerc managed to get past Pierre Gasly’s Alpine on lap 54, but the drama wasn’t over yet.

The final blow came from Oscar Piastri. The McLaren driver executed a bold and risky move on the outside of the fast Turn 9, making contact with Hamilton and damaging his front wing.

Piastri’s aggressive overtake pushed Hamilton back to 10th, where he ultimately finished.

It was a challenging race for Hamilton, who is still adapting to the SF-25. His cautious approach, avoiding unnecessary risks and overdriving, was evident throughout the race.

While he only scored one point, he managed to bring the car home safely on a difficult track where seasoned drivers like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz ended up in the wall.

Hamilton will leave Melbourne with mixed feelings, reflecting on what might have been. Despite the tough debut, the race highlighted the potential for growth as he continues to settle into his new team and car.