Late-Race Drama in Miami
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been issued a 20-second post-race time penalty following a chaotic final lap at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. The incident occurred after Leclerc suffered a high-speed spin at Turn 3. While he managed to avoid a catastrophic collision, the impact with the wall caused visible damage to the front-left suspension of his car.
Struggling to control his damaged vehicle, Leclerc attempted to defend his position against Mercedes' George Russell and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. During this sequence, the Monegasque driver cut multiple chicanes and forced his way past Arvid Lindblad, who was a lapped runner. A minor contact with Russell at the hairpin was also noted by officials.
FIA Stewards' Ruling
Following a review of the final lap, the FIA stewards investigated whether Leclerc had gained an unfair advantage by leaving the track. The initial drive-through penalty was converted into a 20-second time penalty added to his total race time. As a result, Leclerc fell from contention for the podium to eighth position, promoting team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who achieved a career-best finish.
Leclerc defended his actions during the hearing, explaining that the steering arm damage made it nearly impossible to negotiate right-hand corners. However, the stewards remained unconvinced that this justified the multiple track limit violations. The official verdict stated:
«We determined that the fact that he had to cut the chicanes meant that he gained a lasting advantage by leaving the track in that manner. The fact that he had a mechanical issue of some sort did not amount to a justifiable reason.»
Safety Concerns and Racing Incidents
The stewards also reviewed whether Leclerc should have retired the car due to safety concerns regarding its mechanical state. Ultimately, they concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the car was in an unsafe condition, and no further action was taken on that front. Similarly, the contact between Leclerc and Russell at the final hairpin was ruled a minor racing incident, with no penalties applied to either driver.