Michael Schumacher’s old boss was ‘appalled’ by what he saw just a week into Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari career

Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix – his third race as a Ferrari driver – ninth in the championship. The only consolation is that he’s above teammate Charles Leclerc.

Three midfield drivers – Williams’ Alex Albon, Haas’ Esteban Ocon and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll – are above the Ferrari duo. Fred Vasseur’s team sit, rather embarrassingly, fifth in the constructors’ championship.

They would be just one point behind Red Bull had Leclerc and Hamilton been classified fifth and sixth in China. But the former car’s was found to be underweight, while the latter picked up excessive plank wear.

That meant automatic disqualifications, compounding the team’s poor season opener in Australia one week earlier. A strategic blunder cost the team a potential podium and left Leclerc and Hamilton with five points combined.

Ferrari saw 2025 as the year they could end their lengthy championship drought, stretching back to their 2008 constructors’ win. McLaren’s comeback last year shows that an early deficit shouldn’t inspire panic, but the 61-point gap significantly narrows their margin for error.

Luca di Montezemolo seethed at Ferrari disqualification ‘disgrace’, says Bernie Ecclestone

Speaking to Blick, ex-F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone revealed his conversation with Ferrari’s former president Luca di Montezemolo after the Chinese GP. The Italian was ‘appalled’ by the errors they made.

Di Montezemolo was in charge of the Scuderia from 1991 until 2014. His key move in that period was a 1996 deal for Michael Schumacher, who won five straight drivers’ championships between 2000 and 2004.

It was the first time in the iconic team’s history that both of their cars had been thrown out. Leclerc was also expelled from the 2023 United States GP for the same offence as Hamilton.

“I met former Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo there,” Ecclestone said. “And he was appalled by Ferrari’s two disqualifications in China. Italy had never experienced such a disgrace since the start of the World Cup!”

“What went wrong with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton? “There was clearly a lack of a control point to check the cars after qualifying. There’s been an age-old rule about underweight for decades.

“Drive through the dirt after crossing the finish line and pick up as many stones as possible with your tires in the gravel trap.”

Lewis Hamilton will be delighted by Ferrari’s stance on huge F1 rule change

Ralf Schumacher has questioned whether Hamilton will perform consistently this year at the age of 40. He was off the pace of Leclerc in Australia then surprisingly outpaced him in Shanghai.

The Japanese GP will be an especially instructive test for both driver and team. Suzuka is regarded as one of the purest drivers’ circuits left on the calendar, and the first sector is the ultimate test of downforce.

Ferrari have made a multi-year commitment to Hamilton, with an option for 2027 too. Given his predominant struggles with the ground-effect machinery, he may relish the upcoming regulation changes.

It’s emerged that Ferrari are in favour of reintroducing V10 engines, a move that Hamilton has backed. Red Bull are also supportive, but other manufacturers appear either undecided or opposed at this stage.