Miami GP stewards added 20 seconds to Charles Leclerc's race time after the chequered flag, dropping him from sixth to eighth. Max Verstappen also received a five-second penalty but stays fifth. Both penalties came after the race, so the classification changed overnight on Sunday.
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Leclerc: a drive-through becomes 20 seconds
Formula1.com reported that the stewards gave Leclerc a drive-through which, as it came after the race, "has been converted into 20 seconds being added onto his race time", dropping him to eighth. The reason was leaving the track on several occasions without a justifiable reason. The stewards said the car "left the track and gained an advantage" and that a mechanical issue "did not amount to a justifiable reason". Neither report cites an article number.
Leclerc started third and was sixth on the road (GPFans). His final gap is +1:04.245 including the penalty, which Lapchive lists as eighth place and 4 points.
The other investigations
According to Formula1.com, Leclerc faced three stewards' investigations and the other two ended without penalty. His last-lap spin at Turn 3 and wall contact drew no further action, as the stewards found "no evidence of there being an obvious or discernible mechanical issue". His contact with George Russell at Turn 17 was also closed: both drivers considered it a minor racing incident and the stewards agreed.
GPFans adds that Valtteri Bottas received a drive-through for speeding in the pit lane, and that Alex Albon's yellow-flag infringement and the Liam Lawson and Pierre Gasly contact were under investigation. The sources consulted do not give the outcome of those two.
Verstappen: the pit-exit white line, five seconds
GPFans reports Verstappen received five seconds for crossing the white line at the pit exit. PlanetF1's early report said an investigation had been flagged straight after the race for a "potential crossing of the pit-lane white line". Verstappen was fifth on the road, and GPFans says Leclerc's penalty meant Verstappen's five seconds did not change his fifth place. His final gap is +48.949s including the penalty, 4.804s clear of sixth-placed Lewis Hamilton (+53.753s).
What to check
Reports written straight after the flag can differ from the final order. PlanetF1's May 3 report was written before the penalties; the final classification is reflected in GPFans' Monday morning article and The Race's results page.
Sources
- Formula1.com – Leclerc penalised by Miami Grand Prix stewards amid multiple post-race investigations
- GPFans – F1 Miami Grand Prix 2026 results: Final classification after late penalties applied
- The Race – Miami Grand Prix F1 2026 race results
- PlanetF1 – Miami Grand Prix: Kimi Antonelli wins as Max Verstappen under FIA investigation
- Lapchive – 2026 Round 4, Miami GP