Formula 1 fans have reacted with disbelief after Charles Leclerc received a controversial penalty following the Miami Grand Prix, with many questioning the decision after onboard footage revealed significant damage to his Ferrari SF-26 in the closing stages of the race.
The Ferrari driver was handed a 20-second post-race penalty after stewards determined that he had left the track “on several occasions without a justifiable reason”, a ruling that dramatically altered the final classification of the event.
Charles Leclerc had been battling Oscar Piastri for a potential podium finish when he spun into the barriers on the final lap. After the incident, he was forced to cut multiple corners while attempting to bring the damaged car back to the finish, eventually crossing the line in sixth place behind George Russell and Max Verstappen.
However, the penalty pushed Charles Leclerc further down the order to eighth position, promoting Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto ahead of him in the final classification. The decision sparked immediate backlash from fans and commentators after onboard footage revealed the extent of the damage to the Ferrari SF-26.
Fans question FIA decision after Charles Leclerc’s damaged Ferrari SF-26 onboard footage
Lewis Hamilton himself reportedly expressed surprise at Charles Leclerc’s final result, particularly given that the Ferrari driver had been in a strong position earlier in the race. Despite Ferrari ultimately collecting only 12 points from the weekend, the penalty became the central talking point across social media platforms.
Onboard footage from Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-26 clearly showed damage to the suspension system following the late-race spin and barrier contact, leaving the car severely compromised and difficult to control. The Monegasque driver was visibly struggling to steer the car through corners, prompting widespread debate among Formula 1 fans regarding the severity of the penalty.
Many fans argued that the damage to Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari should have been considered a valid justification for repeatedly leaving the track, given that the car was no longer responding correctly to steering inputs.
One fan reaction described the situation as “crazy”, noting that even with full steering input the Ferrari SF-26 failed to respond due to mechanical damage. Another fan pointed out that Charles Leclerc was clearly turning the steering wheel to the right while the car itself was unable to follow the intended direction because of suspension failure.
Additional comments from fans questioned how a 20-second penalty could be justified when the driver was already at a significant disadvantage due to car damage, with several suggesting that the situation should have been treated more leniently by race officials.
Other reactions highlighted the broken suspension and steering limitations of the Ferrari SF-26, arguing that it was unreasonable to expect clean track limits compliance under such conditions. Some fans also questioned whether mechanical failure alone should automatically be considered a “justifiable reason” in penalty decisions.
Charles Leclerc accepts responsibility but admits Ferrari strategy concerns
Following the Miami Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver acknowledged responsibility for the late-race spin, describing it as a costly mistake that ultimately removed the Maranello team from contention for a strong points finish or even a potential victory.
The race itself was another frustrating weekend for both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as strategic decisions and execution errors prevented Ferrari from maximizing their SF-26 package despite earlier signs of competitiveness.
Former Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill reportedly expressed surprise at Ferrari’s strategy decisions during the race, suggesting that the Monegasque may not have been fully involved in key calls, including an early pit stop that potentially compromised his race outcome.
In an official Ferrari statement after the race, Charles Leclerc admitted that the spin on the final lap was his own error. He stated that the start and overall race had been competitive, with Ferrari in contention for a podium position before the incident occurred.
Charles Leclerc added that the mistake cost him several positions and confirmed that full responsibility lay with him. He also emphasized that the team would use the upcoming break before the Canadian Grand Prix to review performance data from the Miami weekend and aim to make improvements going forward.
As Ferrari continues to develop the SF-26, both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be looking to recover lost momentum and ensure that late-race errors and strategic setbacks do not continue to undermine their 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
