F1 Miami Sprint: Charles Leclerc issues apology to Kimi Antonelli and sets Ferrari win target. Charles Leclerc apologised to Kimi Antonelli after their Sprint Race battles in Miami.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has apologised to Kimi Antonelli after their on-track battles during the Miami Sprint Race, while also insisting that improving qualifying performance could open the door to race victories for the Scuderia.

Leclerc, apology to Antonelli

“Kimi is really poor in wheel-to-wheel battles. He moved under braking, it’s incredible, we are going to end up crashing”: Charles Leclerc’s frustration with Kimi Antonelli emerged in the early laps of the Miami Sprint Race and naturally attracted attention across Italy, as both drivers are among the most supported on the grid.

However, it is well known that Charles Leclerc is as emotional and fiery in the car as he is honest and rational when speaking to the media. Before analysing his Sprint, which he finished in third place, the Monegasque driver chose to apologise to Antonelli for comments he later admitted were not appropriate.

Leclerc’s words

“I would like to apologise for the comments I made about Kimi at the beginning of the race, which were a bit aggressive,” the Monegasque said in an interview with Sky Sport F1.

“I don’t mean what I said. The battles we have had are always a bit more aggressive than I would like, and if there is one driver I don’t want to have those kinds of battles with, it is the only Italian driver on the grid, so I hope it can go better in the future. I am sorry I said that.”

After defending from Antonelli’s attacks, Leclerc then tried to close in on Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, but the performance gap in terms of power unit efficiency did not allow him to go beyond third place.

“At the same time, it was a difficult race. We start a bit too far back every time and that is on us, we need to work on qualifying. If we start further forward, I am sure we can win races. Especially on such a hot circuit, every time we are stuck behind it is very difficult,” Charles Leclerc added.

In summary, Charles Leclerc’s post-race apology to Kimi Antonelli demonstrates the Ferrari driver’s sportsmanship and ability to separate heat-of-the-moment frustration from reality. Moving forward, the 28-year-old emphasizes that unlocking better qualifying pace remains the key for the SF-26 to convert its strong race potential into Grand Prix victories.