LEWIS HAMILTON’S second appearance for Ferrari ended with a shock disqualification after he was adjudged to have driven an illegal car in today’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton crossed the line in sixth place — scoring eight points. But three hours after the chequered flag fell in Shanghai, he was expelled from the result after a skid block underneath his Ferrari was found in breach of the regulations by half a millimetre.

On a nightmare day for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, who finished one place ahead of Hamilton, was also removed from the classification with his machine one kilogram underweight. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who crossed the line in 11th place, was the third driver disqualified for a similar infringement.