Why Fred Vasseur’s explanation for Charles Leclerc’s disqualification in China doesn’t add up. A look at Fred Vasseur's explanation for Charles Leclerc’s disqualification in China.

The tsunami that hit Red Bull with the replacement of Liam Lawson by Yuki Tsunoda in the RB21 starting from the Japanese GP has certainly diverted some attention away from the double disqualification of Ferrari in Shanghai, helping to reduce the tension around the Maranello team. Formula 1 is doing everything it can to capture the media’s attention with situations that provoke fan reactions.

Sometimes it’s better to stay quiet rather than speak because you risk reopening discussions that were already pushed to the background. Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, interviewed by L’Equipe, the authoritative French sports newspaper, emphasized that the Italian side did not try to cheat but simply sought the limits of the regulations with some extreme choices or faced small issues that may seem trivial but could have contributed to Charles Leclerc’s disqualification in the Chinese Grand Prix.

“When you end up underweight, the reason is always a combination of factors: excessive tire wear from aiming for a one-stop strategy is just part of the explanation. There was also a loss of a liter of water from Leclerc’s hydration system.”

This explanation doesn’t quite add up: teams have a system that allows the driver to drink during the race, and depending on the type of race, whether hotter or cooler, they can decide how much liquid to put in the bag. Since in Formula 1 every gram is calculated, the team typically opts for a half-liter container with only water. In the past, some drivers added minerals to restore more energy, but with high temperatures, the minerals could cause clogging in the plastic tube, similar to how cholesterol can block veins.

Moreover, with the increased performance in corners and braking, with acceleration peaks recorded at 5-6g, it is emerging that the driver could experience a blockage in intestinal mobility, making it preferable to reduce drinking to a minimum.

So, it’s more likely that a little liquid remains in the bag, without considering the need to have a water reserve, especially since the tendency is to finish the race with an empty bottle. Therefore, keeping a reserve of a liter of water would be a serious mistake.