The aftermath of the 2026 Miami Grand Prix has sparked debate around Charles Leclerc’s self-criticism, with former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese suggesting that the Ferrari driver has been too harsh on himself following a dramatic late-race error that cost him a potential podium finish.
Charles Leclerc saw a strong result slip away at the Hard Rock Stadium after spinning while chasing McLaren driver Oscar Piastri for a place on the podium. The incident occurred at Turn 3, where Charles Leclerc lost control of his Ferrari SF-26 and made contact with the barrier, sustaining damage that would heavily influence the final stages of his race.
Despite the damage, Charles Leclerc attempted to continue and bring the car to the finish. However, in order to make it to the chequered flag, he was forced to repeatedly cut multiple corners due to the loss of steering capability. He went off track at Turns 6, 8, 11, and 15, struggling to navigate the damaged Ferrari around the circuit.
As a result, Charles Leclerc was overtaken by both George Russell and Max Verstappen before the finish, and he ultimately crossed the line behind Maranello teammate Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. A post-race penalty of 20 seconds—issued in place of a drive-through—further dropped him down the classification.
Riccardo Patrese believes Charles Leclerc should avoid public self-criticism
While many Formula 1 fans argued that the penalty appeared harsh given the extent of the damage to the Ferrari, Charles Leclerc took full responsibility for the incident and expressed strong frustration over what he described as a race that had been thrown away in the closing stages.
Former Williams driver Riccardo Patrese, however, offered a different perspective, suggesting that the Monegasque’s reaction was too severe and that such self-criticism should not be expressed publicly.
Speaking to the Italian newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale, Riccardo Patrese explained that Charles Leclerc should not be so hard on himself in public, especially considering his level of commitment and performance throughout the race weekend.
Riccardo Patrese also argued that Ferrari must take responsibility for providing a more competitive package, adding that Charles Leclerc has the potential to fight for a championship if given a stronger and more consistent car.
In Riccardo Patrese’s view, the focus should not be solely on individual mistakes, but also on the overall competitiveness of Ferrari in Formula 1’s current tightly contested field.
What Charles Leclerc said after the Miami Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc has long been known for his highly self-critical approach to racing, often holding himself to extremely high standards. According to his mental coach Riccardo Ceccarelli, Charles Leclerc can dwell on a mistake for up to two days when he feels personally responsible for it.
Following the Miami Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc admitted he was deeply disappointed with himself, acknowledging that a strong race had been compromised by a single mistake at a crucial moment.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Ferrari driver explained that the error was entirely his responsibility and offered no excuses for the incident.
He stated that he had pushed very hard in the penultimate lap and initially believed that allowing Oscar Piastri to pass could help him prepare a better counterattack later in the race. However, Charles Leclerc later admitted that this strategy decision proved to be incorrect.
Charles Leclerc described the move as a poor judgment call, explaining that within just a few corners he had effectively undone what had been a very strong race up to that point. He expressed clear frustration and emphasised that similar mistakes should not happen at Formula 1 level.
At the moment of the spin, Charles Leclerc was only around seven-tenths of a second behind Oscar Piastri and was still in contention for fourth place. However, the combination of the Turn 3 spin, contact with the barrier, and subsequent damage led to a loss of performance that allowed George Russell to recover a 14-second gap and move ahead in the closing stages.
The Miami Grand Prix therefore became another example of how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1, particularly for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, where small errors continue to have major consequences in the fight for podium positions.
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