Lewis Hamilton said he learned a valuable lesson after a disappointing performance in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton, who won the sprint race on Saturday, struggled to sixth place in the main event, citing “terrible” set-up changes as the reason.
“I think it’s good learning, and hopefully, I won’t do that again as I continue to learn this car,” Hamilton told reporters. The seven-time world champion made contact with his teammate Charles Leclerc on the opening lap, damaging Leclerc’s front wing.
However, Leclerc was quick to absolve Hamilton of blame, saying it was a “racing incident” with no bad intentions. Despite the damage, Leclerc was significantly quicker than Hamilton in the second stint, prompting the team to order Hamilton to swap positions.
Hamilton’s disappointing performance was compounded by his disqualification from the race due to a technical infringement. The stewards found that Hamilton’s car had excessive plank wear underneath, which is against the regulations.
As a result, Hamilton was disqualified, along with his teammate Leclerc, who was found to have a car that weighed less than the minimum requirement. Leclerc had finished fifth, while Hamilton finished sixth. Their disqualification means that all drivers below them move up two places in the standings.
Hamilton’s disqualification is not his first; he was also disqualified from the 2023 United States Grand Prix for a similar plank-wear problem. The incident highlights the importance of technical compliance in Formula One and the need for teams to ensure that their cars meet the regulations.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remains optimistic, saying that he will learn from his mistakes and continue to improve his performance. With several races still to go in the season, Hamilton will be looking to bounce back and challenge for the championship.