Ferrari endured a difficult start to the Miami Grand Prix weekend, with Charles Leclerc handed a penalty by the FIA stewards following an incident during Friday’s opening practice session.
The punishment adds to a challenging weekend for the Scuderia at the Miami International Autodrome, where the team has struggled to match the pace shown by championship leaders Mercedes and resurgent McLaren. Leclerc’s setback comes as Ferrari attempts to close the gap in the constructors’ championship, currently sitting second behind the dominant Silver Arrows.
FIA Confirms Leclerc Penalty
The FIA stewards issued their decision regarding an incident involving Leclerc during the extended 90-minute FP1 session on Friday. The nature of the infringement occurred during the opening practice, which had been lengthened from the standard 60 minutes for this weekend’s event.
The penalty represents an unwelcome complication for Ferrari’s weekend strategy, particularly given the sprint race format in Miami that compresses the competitive window. With sprint qualifying already completed and Leclerc facing the consequences of Friday’s error, the team’s options to recover are limited.
Norris Under Investigation
The FIA’s busy weekend continued with an investigation into Lando Norris following an alleged infringement at the Miami Grand Prix. The McLaren driver, who claimed pole position for Saturday’s sprint race, faces scrutiny from the stewards over a separate incident.
Meanwhile, George Russell expressed surprise at the pace shown by both Ferrari and McLaren after Mercedes struggled during parts of Friday running. The reigning constructors’ champions have dominated the early 2026 season with Kimi Antonelli leading the drivers’ standings on 72 points, 9 clear of teammate Russell.
Technical Developments and Weather Concerns
Red Bull arrived in Miami with a new rear wing concept that bears similarities to Ferrari’s distinctive ‘macarena’ design introduced earlier in the season. The development highlights the ongoing technical arms race in the paddock as teams refine their packages under the new 2026 regulations.
Weather remains a significant factor for the remainder of the weekend, with thunderstorm warnings issued for the Miami area. The threat of rain could disrupt both Saturday’s sprint race and Sunday’s grand prix, potentially shuffling the competitive order.
The sprint race takes place later on Saturday, 2 May 2026, with Norris starting from pole position ahead of championship leader Antonelli. Sunday’s main qualifying session will determine the grid for the full-distance Miami Grand Prix.