Ferrari handed late FIA time penalty after Miami Grand Prix
Ferrari’s has been dealt a major post-race penalty following a dramatic finish to the .
Leclerc initially took the chequered flag in sixth after a tense final lap in which his race nearly fell apart. While pushing to hold position, he lost control of his SF-26 and spun. Despite the scare, he reacted quickly to avoid the barriers and kept going.
The incident, however, left his car visibly damaged, affecting its balance and drivability. As he limped to the finish, Leclerc ran wide at several corners, struggling to stay within track limits due to the compromised condition of the car.
After the race, stewards reviewed onboard footage and telemetry, determining that he had exceeded track limits multiple times and gained an advantage—retaining position while limiting time loss despite the damage.
In line with regulations, such an infringement warrants a penalty. Given the repeated nature of the violations and their impact, officials issued a 20-second time penalty rather than the usual five or 10 seconds.
As a result, Leclerc drops from sixth to eighth in the final classification, costing Ferrari valuable championship points at a crucial stage of the season.
The ruling reinforces the FIA’s strict stance on track limits, even under mitigating circumstances like car damage. While Leclerc’s effort to salvage his race was clear, stewards maintained that the regulations must be applied consistently.
It adds to a chaotic weekend in Miami, where several incidents and investigations reshaped both sprint and race outcomes. For Ferrari, it’s another setback in an inconsistent start to the campaign, despite flashes of pace from Leclerc and the team.
Focus now shifts to the next round, with mounting pressure on the Italian outfit to turn performance into clean, penalty-free results.
Grand Prix
Ferrari’s has been dealt a major post-race penalty following a dramatic finish to the .
Leclerc initially took the chequered flag in sixth after a tense final lap in which his race nearly fell apart. While pushing to hold position, he lost control of his SF-26 and spun. Despite the scare, he reacted quickly to avoid the barriers and kept going.
The incident, however, left his car visibly damaged, affecting its balance and drivability. As he limped to the finish, Leclerc ran wide at several corners, struggling to stay within track limits due to the compromised condition of the car.
After the race, stewards reviewed onboard footage and telemetry, determining that he had exceeded track limits multiple times and gained an advantage—retaining position while limiting time loss despite the damage.
In line with regulations, such an infringement warrants a penalty. Given the repeated nature of the violations and their impact, officials issued a 20-second time penalty rather than the usual five or 10 seconds.
As a result, Leclerc drops from sixth to eighth in the final classification, costing Ferrari valuable championship points at a crucial stage of the season.
The ruling reinforces the FIA’s strict stance on track limits, even under mitigating circumstances like car damage. While Leclerc’s effort to salvage his race was clear, stewards maintained that the regulations must be applied consistently.
It adds to a chaotic weekend in Miami, where several incidents and investigations reshaped both sprint and race outcomes. For Ferrari, it’s another setback in an inconsistent start to the campaign, despite flashes of pace from Leclerc and the team.
Focus now shifts to the next round, with mounting pressure on the Italian outfit to turn performance into clean, penalty-free results.