Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating conclusion to the Miami Grand Prix after being hit with a significant post-race penalty that reshaped the final classification.
The Ferrari driver initially crossed the line in sixth place, despite a dramatic final lap in which he lost control of his SF-26 and spun. In a moment of impressive car control, Leclerc managed to avoid crashing heavily into the barriers, but his car sustained damage that immediately compromised its performance. From that point onward, he struggled to navigate certain corners, particularly right-hand turns, as he limped toward the chequered flag.
However, the stewards later reviewed his final lap and determined that Leclerc had repeatedly left the track and gained an advantage as a result. Due to the severity and frequency of these infringements, he was handed a drive-through penalty, which was converted into a 20-second time penalty after the race. This sanction dropped him from sixth to eighth place in the final standings.
As a consequence of the penalty, Leclerc’s rivals benefited. His teammate Lewis Hamilton was promoted to sixth place, while Franco Colapinto of Alpine moved up to seventh. The reshuffle added further disappointment to what had already been a difficult weekend for Ferrari at the Miami International Autodrome.
The Maranello-based squad had arrived in Miami with high expectations, especially after introducing an extensive package of 11 upgrades following a five-week break in the season. There had been optimism that Ferrari could challenge Mercedes for victory, but those hopes ultimately failed to materialize.
The FIA confirmed after the race that Leclerc had been under investigation for two separate issues: leaving the track and gaining an advantage, and continuing to drive a potentially unsafe car due to damage. While the latter concern was dismissed—officials noting there was “no obvious and discernible mechanical issue”—the former resulted in a substantial penalty.
In its official statement, the FIA explained that Leclerc’s spin occurred at Turn 3 on the final lap, where he made contact with the wall before continuing. Although the driver reported that the car felt mostly intact, he acknowledged difficulties with handling, particularly in right-hand corners. This limitation forced him to cut multiple chicanes on his way to the finish.
Stewards concluded that by leaving the track in this manner, Leclerc gained a lasting advantage, regardless of the circumstances. They emphasized that mechanical difficulties do not justify such actions under the regulations, leading to the imposition of the strict penalty that ultimately defined his race result.