Ferrari frustrated as FIA’s stricter plank-wear checks shake up the 2025 title fight
Ferrari have reportedly expressed clear frustration behind the scenes after a recent FIA regulatory adjustment dramatically reshaped the 2025 Formula 1 championship narrative. The updated approach to policing plank wear—a long-standing technical parameter that determines whether an F1 car complies with minimum ride-height rules—played a major role in the dramatic post-race drama that saw both McLaren drivers disqualified in Las Vegas.
Before the disqualification shock, Lando Norris believed he had placed himself in a strong position to approach the Qatar Grand Prix with a commanding lead in the drivers’ standings. Instead, the McLaren camp left Las Vegas devastated, as both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were excluded for excessive plank wear, tightening the championship battle. Max Verstappen’s advantage shrank instantly, leaving him equal on points with Oscar Piastri and only 24 points shy of Lando Norris.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was already defined by chaos, with the grid navigating freezing night-time temperatures, disruptive manhole cover incidents during practice, and a qualifying session run in treacherous conditions. For teams, finding the correct ride height became a gamble with serious consequences.
Ferrari understood that challenge all too well. Charles Leclerc narrowly missed out on a podium finish, while Lewis Hamilton endured another challenging weekend with the SF-25. The Maranello team were also the only other outfit this season to face a double disqualification—making McLaren’s setback in Las Vegas a familiar and painful story for them.
Ferrari irritated by FIA’s expanded plank-wear monitoring across every car
According to F1 freelance and content creator Jorge Piero, McLaren’s Las Vegas issues stemmed from an aggressive attempt to lower their car for maximum aerodynamic performance on the long straights. FIA sources reportedly insisted the situation was “isolated,” suggesting neither Qatar nor Abu Dhabi would require such extreme ride-height optimisation.
However, the FIA also confirmed that in recent weeks it had intensified its inspection protocol, shifting from selective post-race checks to a more comprehensive process that now targets every single car. This increased scrutiny, while aimed at ensuring complete fairness, has not been welcomed universally.
Inside the Ferrari garage, the reaction has been far from positive. Reports indicate that Ferrari personnel are annoyed by the broadened monitoring, especially given how heavily plank-wear sensitivity has shaped the development path of the SF-25. FIA officials stressed that all teams are being checked equally, emphasising transparency amid what has been called “the season of disqualifications.”
Ferrari’s early-season progress stalled after Hamilton’s Shanghai disqualification
Ferrari’s 2025 campaign began on the wrong foot in Australia, where Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton only narrowly secured points despite six retirements around them. The team initially attributed their poor pace to extreme weather rather than underlying performance problems.
Momentum briefly returned at the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint Race victory in Shanghai gave Ferrari hope that the SF-25 had untapped potential. Yet those expectations collapsed hours after the Grand Prix when Lewis Hamilton was disqualified for excessive plank wear.
That moment proved to be a turning point—forcing Ferrari to raise their car and abandon their preferred low-rake, low-ride-height configuration. It was especially problematic for Lewis Hamilton, who has historically favoured cars set extremely close to the ground for maximum stability and aerodynamic efficiency.
Since then, Ferrari have spent significant resources re-engineering their rear suspension geometry and adjusting the car’s mechanical platform. Despite those efforts, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have repeatedly expressed frustration over constant “lift and coast” instructions issued during races. Those conservative strategies are designed to reduce bottoming-out and limit plank degradation—but they come at the cost of overtaking ability and sustained race pace.
The FIA’s move away from spot-checking has boxed Ferrari into an even more cautious approach, making it nearly impossible for the team to gamble on aggressive setups in pursuit of a long-overdue Grand Prix victory in 2025.
Ferrari forced to shift focus as 2026 rule revolution approaches
With the major regulatory overhaul of 2026 rapidly approaching, Ferrari no longer have the flexibility to re-engineer their 2025 car around the plank-wear issue. By mid-season, technical development had already shifted toward next year’s chassis and power unit projects.
As a result, Ferrari have accepted that podium finishes—rather than wins—may be the upper limit of their performance this year. The team’s long-term focus is now on regaining championship-contending form in 2026 and beyond, when new aerodynamic rules, redesigned floor concepts, and the next-generation hybrid engines arrive.
For Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the frustration continues, but Ferrari are determined that the lessons of 2025 will form the foundation for a far more competitive future under the upcoming ruleset.
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