The opening lap of the 2026 Miami Grand Prix continued to deliver intense wheel-to-wheel action, with Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto becoming involved in a tense battle that resulted in contact and visible damage to the Ferrari.
Lap 1/57: midfield fight turns physical in Miami
As the field settled into the opening phase of the race, the battle for sixth place at Turn 11 became one of the early focal points. Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto went head-to-head under braking, both committing late into the corner as neither driver was willing to concede position.
The two cars made contact while fighting for the apex, forcing both drivers slightly wide in the exit phase. Despite the moment of chaos, the Briton managed to recover more effectively and rejoin ahead of the Alpine driver, retaining sixth position.
However, the incident came at a cost for the Ferrari driver, as his car sustained aerodynamic damage that immediately began to affect performance over race distance.
Hamilton suffers aerodynamic damage
Sky Sports F1 analyst Karun Chandhok reported that Ferrari quickly assessed the situation over the radio and confirmed the extent of the issue.
“Ferrari have told him he is losing 10-15 points of downforce every lap,” Chandhok explained.
This level of damage is expected to have a significant impact on race pace, particularly in high-speed sections and tyre management over a full stint. Even small aerodynamic losses can translate into tenths per lap, which is crucial in a tightly packed midfield battle.
Despite the contact, the FIA stewards reviewed the incident between Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto and ultimately decided that no further investigation was necessary, allowing both drivers to continue without penalty.
On track, Lewis Hamilton remained in sixth position, running between Oscar Piastri ahead and Franco Colapinto behind, but with the added challenge of managing a compromised Ferrari in what was already proving to be a demanding race.
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