F1 Miami GP heartbreak for Charles Leclerc: Ferrari driver drops from podium fight after late damage. Charles Leclerc suffered a dramatic late setback in the 2026 Miami Grand Prix.

The 2026 Miami Grand Prix ended in complete chaos, with a dramatic final-lap twist that saw Charles Leclerc lose crucial positions in the dying moments of the race after sustaining damage and struggling to keep his Ferrari on pace.

Lap 57/57: Late drama reshapes the finishing order

After an already chaotic start and a highly eventful race, the final lap delivered yet another unexpected turn. Charles Leclerc, who had been fighting through a difficult phase of the race with a damaged car, ultimately slipped down the order in the closing metres.

The Ferrari driver had earlier clipped the wall while attempting to recover after a spin, leaving him with visible damage to his tyre and overall instability in the car. Shortly after being overtaken by Oscar Piastri, Leclerc’s pace dropped significantly as he struggled to maintain consistent speed through the final sector.

With the Ferrari clearly compromised, the situation escalated in the final corners. George Russell seized the opportunity at the penultimate corner to move ahead, taking advantage of Leclerc’s reduced grip and straight-line performance.

Just moments later, Max Verstappen also capitalised on the struggling Ferrari on the final run to the finish line, completing a late overtake that further compounded Leclerc’s disappointment.

Leclerc drops to sixth after late setbacks

What had once looked like a strong points finish quickly unravelled into a frustrating sixth-place result for Leclerc, as the combination of earlier damage, tyre degradation, and reduced aerodynamic efficiency proved too much to recover from in the closing stages.

The final sequence highlighted just how sensitive race outcomes can be in modern Formula 1, where even minor contact with the barriers can have lasting consequences over a full stint — particularly on a street-style circuit like Miami.

For Ferrari, the result will feel like a missed opportunity, especially given their early competitiveness and Leclerc’s position in the podium battle before the late-race issues unfolded.

As the chequered flag fell, it was George Russell and Max Verstappen who walked away with the final gains, while the Monegasque was left to reflect on what could have been in a race defined by chaos from start to finish.