Leclerc, last lap nightmare: spins, damages suspension and is under investigation – VIDEO

One turn too many

Charles Leclerc’s Miami GP lasted one lap too many. After being a generous protagonist throughout the race, despite a Ferrari that seemed decidedly less competitive than Mercedes and McLaren, and having fought until the penultimate lap with Oscar Piastri for the third step of the podium, the Monegasque experienced a truly nightmare last lap.

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The Ferrari driver started the 57th lap in fourth position after just being overtaken by Piastri and tried to keep the pace of the Australian McLaren driver in the curve 3-4 section: here, however, the troubles began because car #16 ended in a spin due to his driving error – admitted by the driver himself with great honesty – and slightly hit the wall.

Investigation and risk of penalty

This contact caused damage to the front left suspension of Leclerc’s car, which began to proceed slowly and to cut almost all the corners because it was almost impossible for him to make the car turn. This allowed George Russell and Max Verstappen behind him to catch up and then overtake Leclerc just before the finish line. The sixth place obtained under the checkered flag might not be final for the red driver.

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All the chicane cuts have indeed put Leclerc under investigation by the stewards and it is likely that a penalty will be given against him: if it were a five-second penalty Leclerc would not lose positions (Hamilton behind him finished nine seconds back) but if the penalty were more severe – and this is far from unlikely given the number of corners cut by #16 – the Ferrari driver would slip even further back in the finishing order.

Read more Ferrari calls Leclerc to the pits, Charles via radio: “Why did we stop?”