Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was hit with a 20-second time penalty after the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix for repeatedly leaving the track and gaining an advantage on the final lap, dropping him from sixth to eighth place.
Miami Grand Prix – Leclerc Penalized for Final Lap Off-Track Excursions
The Incident
According to race stewards, Leclerc spun at Turn 3 on the final lap and made contact with the wall. He continued driving, but reported that damage from the incident prevented the car from properly negotiating right-hand corners. To reach the finish line, Leclerc cut several chicanes.
The stewards determined that these actions constituted leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage. A mechanical issue was not considered a justifiable reason for the infractions. The stewards found no evidence of an obvious or discernible mechanical issue that warranted further action.
Penalty and Outcome
The stewards imposed a drive-through penalty, which was converted to a 20-second time penalty due to the number of infractions. As a result, Leclerc dropped from sixth place to eighth in the final classification.
- Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto each gained one position due to the penalty.
Race Sequence
- Leclerc led early laps after overtaking Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen at the start.
- He held third place during the closing stages.
- Oscar Piastri passed Leclerc on the penultimate lap.
- On the final lap, Leclerc spun at Turn 3 while attempting to retake the position from Piastri.
Additional Investigation
A separate investigation into contact between Leclerc and George Russell at Turn 17 resulted in no further action. The stewards reported that both drivers deemed it a minor racing incident.