Formula 1 had a tense atmosphere in the Miami GP Sprint, with Charles Leclerc criticizing Kimi Antonelli after a direct duel on the track. The Ferrari driver later admitted he overreacted in the heat of the moment.
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The episode draws attention because it involves two important names of the new phase of the category, and raises questions about the aggressive style of the young Mercedes driver. Leclerc hopes that the battles between them will be more balanced from now on.
Right after overtaking Antonelli at the start, taking advantage of a problem at the exit of the Mercedes driver, the Monegasque managed to stay ahead, but not without discomfort. Over the radio, he fired: “Kimi is very bad wheel to wheel. He moved under braking. It’s unbelievable. We’re going to crash!”.
Even with the frustration, Leclerc secured third place, behind the McLaren one-two led by Lando Norris. Antonelli crossed in fourth, but was penalized five seconds for track limits, dropping to sixth.
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After the race, Leclerc softened his tone, acknowledging the impact of adrenaline on his reaction. “I was a bit too harsh, maybe with the adrenaline inside the car,” he said. Still, he indicated that the rival’s behavior has already caused other moments of tension.
The Ferrari driver made it clear that he expects changes in the future. “We’ve had our moments with Kimi in the past. I hope this calms down a bit from now on,” he said, adding that he likes the Italian off the track, but considers that some battles have been “too close and unnecessary.”
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