FIA hit Ferrari F1 with late time penalty after Miami Grand Prix
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been hit with a significant post-race penalty following a dramatic and chaotic conclusion to the Miami Grand Prix.
Leclerc originally crossed the finish line in sixth place after a tense final lap that saw his race unravel in the closing moments. Pushing hard to retain position, the Ferrari driver lost control of his SF-26 and spun. In what could have easily ended in retirement, Leclerc showed sharp reflexes to keep the car out of the barriers and continue.
However, the incident left his car with visible damage, particularly affecting its balance and handling. As he attempted to nurse the car back to the line, Leclerc repeatedly ran wide at multiple corners, struggling to keep the car within track limits due to the compromised condition of his machine.
Following the race, FIA stewards conducted a detailed review of the final-lap incident using onboard footage and telemetry data. They concluded that Leclerc had left the track on several occasions and, crucially, gained a lasting advantage by doing so—specifically by maintaining position and minimising time loss despite the damage.
Under Formula 1 sporting regulations, leaving the track and gaining an advantage warrants a time penalty. Given the frequency of the infringements and their impact on the outcome, officials opted to impose a 20-second penalty rather than a standard five or 10 seconds.
The penalty promotes drivers behind him in the classification and drops Leclerc from sixth to eighth, costing Ferrari valuable championship points at a stage of the season where consistency is proving critical.
The decision also underlines the FIA’s strict enforcement of track limits, even in mitigating circumstances such as car damage. While Leclerc’s effort to salvage points was evident, the stewards determined that the rules must be applied uniformly regardless of intent or situation.
This latest ruling adds to an already eventful weekend in Miami, where multiple incidents, penalties, and steward investigations have reshaped results across both the sprint and the main race. For Ferrari, it marks another frustrating chapter in what has been an inconsistent start to their campaign, despite flashes of competitive pace from both Leclerc and his team.
Attention will now turn to how the Italian outfit responds in the next round, with pressure mounting to convert performance into clean, penalty-free results.