Leclerc hit with 20-second penalty after Miami GP

After the race at the Miami International Autodrome, stewards had to review multiple incidents involving several drivers.

The most notable penalties were given to Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen received a five-second penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit. The incident happened during a safety car period. At first, there was not enough video evidence, but new camera angles later confirmed that his front-left tyre crossed the line. Despite the penalty, his final race position (5th place) did not change.

On the other hand, Leclerc was given a much bigger penalty the race. On the final lap, he spun and hit the wall but continued driving. His car was damaged, and he was forced to cut several chicanes on his way to the finish. Stewards decided that he gained an advantage by leaving the track multiple times. Because of this he received 20-second penalty and he dropped from sixth to eighth place.

There was also a collision between Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly in Turn 17. Gasly was ahead and had the right to the corner, but Lawson hit him and Gasly spun into the barriers. However, no penalty was given. Data showed that Lawson had a gearbox failure just before the incident, and stewards accepted that he could not avoid the crash.

Another moment involved George Russell and Verstappen in Turn 1. The two cars made slight contact, but both drivers agreed it was just a normal racing incident. Stewards also decided no action was needed.