Oscar Piastri celebrated a dominant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two ahead of teammate Lando Norris. However, the biggest shock of the weekend came post-race, when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified for running illegal cars.

The dramatic turn of events left Ferrari with no points in Shanghai, and Piastri did not hold back when asked about the controversy.

Piastri’s Bold Statement

Speaking to the media after his victory, Piastri made a surprising claim about Ferrari’s disqualification.

“I don’t think this was just an unfortunate mistake. There’s always a reason why teams push the limits, and sometimes, they get caught. It’s part of the game,” the Australian driver stated.

The three-time Grand Prix winner hinted that Ferrari may have knowingly pushed the boundaries of the regulations.

“We all know how crucial weight and wear management are in modern F1. If you’re running too light or wearing down parts excessively, there’s usually an intent behind it. Whether Ferrari meant to or not, they paid the price,” he added.

Ferrari’s Miscalculation Proves Costly

Leclerc and Hamilton were initially classified fifth and sixth, respectively, before being disqualified. Leclerc’s car was found to be under the minimum weight limit, while Hamilton’s Ferrari breached the plank wear regulations – an infringement eerily similar to the one that cost him a podium at the 2023 United States GP when he was driving for Mercedes.

Ferrari quickly responded, stating that Leclerc’s one-stop strategy led to excessive tyre degradation, making the car lighter than expected. As for Hamilton, the team admitted they misjudged skid wear.

“It was a miscalculation, not an attempt to gain an advantage. We will learn from this and ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Ferrari’s statement read.

McLaren’s Rise and Red Bull’s Concern

Piastri’s dominant win, along with Norris securing second place despite late brake issues, proved that McLaren is emerging as a genuine title contender. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could only manage fourth place, finishing over 15 seconds behind the race winner.

The disqualification of the Ferrari drivers also promoted Esteban Ocon to fifth, followed by Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli and Williams’ Alex Albon. British teenager Oliver Bearman impressed once again, charging through the field to claim eighth place.

With McLaren now leading Mercedes by 25 points in the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull trailing further behind, and Ferrari already 61 points adrift, the title race is shaping up to be more unpredictable than ever.

As the F1 circus heads to Suzuka, all eyes will be on Ferrari to see how they respond to this setback—and whether Piastri’s words carry more weight than just a post-race reaction.