Double disqualification: a first since 1999, but last time Ferrari overturned FIA ruling. The 199 Malaysian GP weekend and the post-race investigation.

Ferrari’s 2025 season hasn’t started in the best way: in the second race of the new F1 season, the Italian team suffered a double disqualification. Although for different reasons, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were penalized in China, just as Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine were in the past. However, a later discovery changed the course of that championship.

The Malaysian GP weekend
Michael Schumacher arrived in Malaysia after six races of inactivity. In the 1999 British GP, an accident had left him with a broken leg. Upon his return, the German driver was in great shape and found Ferrari equally competitive. Along with his teammate Irvine, he dominated qualifying, with Michael securing pole position.

On race day, Ferrari led the way, although they later encountered difficulties. Similar to what happened in China on Sunday, the two Maranello drivers received team orders, but for different reasons. In Shanghai, the goal was to let Charles Leclerc pass to attack George Russell, whereas in Sepang, Michael Schumacher allowed Eddie Irvine through to secure the 1-2 finish.

However, Ferrari’s plan didn’t work out, as David Coulthard quickly moved up to second place. The Scottish driver’s retirement a few laps later, though, allowed Schumacher to restore Ferrari’s 1-2. After a pit stop dropped Irvine back, Schumacher let him pass again, gifting him what would become the final victory of his career.

Post-race investigation in Malaysia
Ferrari ran into trouble after the race when the FIA deemed their bargeboards illegal. They protruded 10 mm beyond the maximum allowed limit set by Article 3.12.1 of the technical regulations. Just hours after the checkered flag, Ferrari’s 1-2 finish turned into a double disqualification. In the following days, Ferrari’s engineers further examined the matter and requested a review, leading to a legal battle.

It was revealed that the FIA had not accounted for the 5 mm tolerance allowed by Article 3.12.6. But since Ferrari’s bargeboards extended by 10 mm, how did the ruling change? The key detail was the angle of the element—while the initial measurement was correct, Ferrari’s clever engineering meant that, when inclined, the bargeboards extended by only 4.5 mm.

This technical argument allowed Ferrari to overturn the FIA’s ruling, exposing flaws in the Federation’s measurement methods. The Court of Appeal dismissed the FIA’s control procedures, and as a result, Mika Hakkinen and McLaren lost the chance to secure both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles early.

A crucial observation by a fan, Sicilian engineer Alberto Nicosia, followed by Ferrari’s decision to contest the ruling, enabled the team to reclaim its place at the top of the standings. This led to the final showdown in Japan, where Hakkinen regained the championship lead and won the drivers’ title, while Ferrari secured the constructors’ championship.

Source: f1ingenerale