Bernie Collins witnessed the FIA do something highly ‘unusual’ after Ferrari topped pit-stop table in China

Ferrari once again topped the F1 pit stop table at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend. It was hardly a consolation for team principal Fred Vasseur as he saw both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified.

Still, it bodes well for future events. It could be a difference-maker in a battle for victory or a podium finish, particularly in a season that’s still forecast to be one of the closest ever.

The Ferrari crew serviced Charles Leclerc’s car in just 2.05 seconds in China, three-hundredths quicker than second-place Racing Bulls. Ironically, Leclerc’s disqualification may be linked to the unexpected one-stop strategy, with the car’s weight dropping below the legal limit as he shed rubber.

At the Australian GP, the Scuderia were responsible for the top two times, with Leclerc the main beneficiary again after a 2.32-second tyre change. Lewis Hamilton was in and out within 2.38.

FIA examine Ferrari pit stops after back-to-back F1 awards

Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, Bernie Collins suggested Ferrari’s rapid pit-stops may have invited some scrutiny from the FIA. After the race in China, she saw a representative from the governing body watching Ferrari’s procedure.

Collins is a veteran of the pit lane, having worked as a strategist before transitioning to a punditry role. She says she’s never seen this kind of investigation.

For the moment at least, it seems nothing has come of it. Ferrari won’t want to lose one of the few advantages they have over their rivals after what’s been a disappointing start to the season.

While Leclerc’s car was underweight, there was excessive wear on Hamilton’s plank. Ferrari thought they’d earned 18 points from the race before they were thrown out.

Collins said: “The one thing I noticed, which was unusual, and I’ve not quite figured it out… walking from the podium into the paddock, there was a Ferrari car in the pit stop position with mechanics around it, almost like testing the pit-stop equipment with an FIA guy there.

“I don’t know if they were having to prove it the pit-stop system works to the regulation as well, if there’s a question mark on that. Obviously, we’ve not heard anything, so I don’t think there’s anything to come of that.

“I’ve not ever before seen a car in a pit-stop position post-race, four guns out, four mechanics out. I think they were checking that when they pressed the gun, the light goes at the right time.”

Ted Kravitz unhappy with what Lewis Hamilton did after China Sprint win

Former F1 team manager Peter Windsor says Ferrari’s double disqualification was ‘inexcusable’. The breaches were naturally slight, but this is a notoriously precise sport where teams rarely make this mistake.

Vasseur bemoaned the loss of 14 decisive points in last year’s title fight with McLaren, and now Ferrari find themselves 61 adrift of the reigning champions. These first two rounds could prove decisive in that regard.

The main cause for optimism heading to Suzuka was Hamilton’s Sprint victory. He converted pole position in authoritative fashion, finishing nearly seven seconds clear of Oscar Piastri.

Ted Kravitz wanted Hamilton to celebrate more afterwards, bemoaning the narrative that it was ‘just a Sprint’. Rather, he sees it as a significant milestone in the 40-year-old’s Ferrari career.