Charles Leclerc was handed a drive-through penalty (converted into a 20-second time penalty) at the Miami Grand Prix — and why was it so much more severe than the punishment Lewis Hamilton received at the Singapore Grand Prix last year?
Charles Leclerc received a 20-second time penalty at the Miami Grand Prix, a decision that caused surprise due to its severity. The penalty was initially a drive-through but was later converted to the final sanction of 20 seconds post-race for repeatedly leaving the track without justification. While the penalty mentioned gaining an advantage, it primarily highlighted the repeated breaches themselves. The chaotic final lap saw Leclerc’s car damaged, leading to handling issues that caused him to run off track multiple times. Despite explaining the car’s issues, the stewards ruled that the damage did not justify the breaches, as they believed he gained a lasting advantage by cutting chicanes. However, with Leclerc already losing positions due to the car’s issues, the penalty’s impact on his final classification stirred debate.
