Lewis Hamilton rises in Miami Grand Prix standings after Leclerc penalty
Lewis Hamilton has been handed a welcome boost after the Miami Grand Prix, following a 20-second penalty imposed on his teammate Charles Leclerc by F1’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), reports BritPanorama.
Initially finishing seventh, Hamilton benefitted from Leclerc’s sanction, who lost control of his car on the final lap while vying for third place against Oscar Piastri. The penalty not only cost Leclerc four championship points but also allowed Hamilton to claim two additional points from the revised classification.
Hamilton is now tied on 51 points in the standings with McLaren’s Lando Norris following this post-race adjustment. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto also advanced one position due to the penalty, securing two extra points for himself.
During the final lap, Leclerc lost control at turn three, impacting his Ferrari’s performance. He managed to avoid a complete retirement despite crashing into a barrier, which left his vehicle with significant damage affecting his handling through right-hand corners. He was forced to navigate the track ineffectively, cutting chicanes on four occasions, as George Russell and Max Verstappen closed in on him at the finish line.
The stewards issued their decision more than two hours after the race, converting what was initially a drive-through penalty into a 20-second time addition. The FIA noted in their statement, “The driver informed us that the car appeared fine, save that the car would not negotiate the right-hand corners properly.”
In response to his performance, Leclerc expressed disappointment, stating, “The last lap mistake is obviously all on me and it cost us P3 or P4. Very disappointed with myself. Mistakes happen, but in the last lap of the race like that, it’s frustrating and not the level where I should be at.” Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claimed victory, extending his lead in the championship standings to 20 points as the youngest driver ever to do so.
As always in F1, the balance of fortune can shift drastically within a matter of moments. The Miami Grand Prix served once again as a reminder that triumph is often coupled with the specter of disappointment, especially for those like Leclerc, who were so tantalisingly close to a podium finish.
