Formula 1 had a busy start at the Miami GP, with Charles Leclerc combining strong performance with a minor infraction. The Ferrari driver led FP1 but was ultimately penalized for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane.
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The incident does not compromise the rest of the Monegasque’s weekend but draws attention to the strictness of the rules even in minimal details. Leclerc was caught at 81.4 km/h in the pit lane, above the 80 km/h limit, resulting in a 200 euro fine imposed by the FIA.
Despite the penalty, the driver’s performance stood out in the only free practice session of the Sprint weekend. Leclerc posted 1:29.310 and led both on Hard and Soft tires, showing consistency throughout the activity.
In the final minutes, when the main drivers went for qualifying simulations, the Ferrari driver maintained the advantage. He finished three tenths ahead of Max Verstappen, while Lando Norris showed good pace but was hindered by traffic on the track.
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Other names on the grid faced difficulties in the session. Kimi Antonelli was unable to set a time on Soft tires after a power unit problem that Mercedes could not fix before the end of the session.
The FIA confirmed the infraction and detailed the penalty in an official statement: “Car 16 exceeded the pit lane speed limit, which is 80 km/h at this event, by 1.4 km/h.” The fine, considered minor, has no sporting consequences for Leclerc, who starts the weekend with strong pace in Miami.
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