Latest news with #MiamiFormulaOneSprint
Newsweek
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Charles Leclerc Reacts to Miami Sprint Race Crash Amid Lewis Hamilton's Podium Finish
Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc gets ready before the 2025 Miami Formula One Sprint at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 3, 2025. Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc gets ready before the 2025 Miami Formula One Sprint at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 3, 2025. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc crashed out of the Miami Sprint Race before it started, as rain poured onto the track and he lost control during the tire warm-up laps. The early part of Saturday was marked by rainfall, with conditions likely more suitable for wet tires than the intermediate tires on Leclerc's car. The large puddles of standing water increased by the second, causing Leclerc to aquaplane and completely lose control against one of the many walls on the Miami street track. He was set to start the sprint race in P6, where he could have captured a potential podium finish given the shifting conditions. "There could be many, many reasons, but at the end of the day, I'm the one behind the wheel," Leclerc told the media after his crash. "So, I mean, it's a mistake and a big one because, obviously, on the lap to the grid, that's never what you want. "I was completely out of control in the back straight. "I wasn't even flat out, so I wasn't trying to push in the straights, but there was a lot of aquaplaning, and the car was just not responding to anything I was doing anymore, and it was the wall." Charles Leclerc hits the wall!! 😱 With rain falling heavily, Leclerc sustains heavy damage on his way to the grid after contact with the wall#F1 #F1Sprint #MiamiGP — Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2025 The race eventually got underway, and Leclerc's teammate Lewis Hamilton captured a podium finish based on the seven-time world champion's bold decision to come in earlier for slick tires. The rain subsided quickly during the race, and the humid heat allowed the track to dry rapidly. Ferrari got the strategy right and pitted Hamilton at the right time, which could have likely led to at least a P4 finish for Leclerc. Hamilton was not particularly fast either, struggling to stay ahead of Williams' car, which resulted in the drastic tire choice. After his second podium with the Scuderia, Hamilton noted how he and Ferrari had decided. Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida."I really, really did struggle on the inters. I think everyone was struggling on them and I just, I made that call at the end. I was like, 'I'm coming in because I was going nowhere," he said. "So, take the risk, take the gamble and it paid off. I wish we had another couple of laps to give these guys (Norris and Piastri) a bit of a fight, but, you know, big congrats to McLaren as always. "I was so happy, really, really happy with the results to get up here, because it wasn't looking very good through qualifying. "Obviously, we were a chunk off these guys and then to get onto the inters, I was just sliding around. "I had the Williams behind me, I think, and there was another one behind him who was most likely to get overtaken by. So, I was like, I've got to roll the dice. "I was full lock through turn 12 and full lock through turn 16 and it still wasn't turning, so I was like, let's just go for it. Honestly, I should have done it maybe a lap or two before that."
The Citizen
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Norris wins wild and wet Miami GP sprint race
"My luck in Miami seems pretty good at the minute, so I'm happy." McLaren's British driver Lando Norris looks on after winning the 2025 Miami Formula One Sprint at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 3, 2025. (Photo by Chandan Khanna / AFP) McLaren's Lando Norris won a chaotic sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday, pipping championship leader and team-mate Oscar Piastri in a race delayed due to torrential rain. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finished third while 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli, who had started on pole for Mercedes, finished in tenth. Antonelli lost his lead at the first turn where Piastri forced him wide and when he returned to the track he was down in fourth. The race got underway after a 25-minute delay due to heavy rain which had impacted the formation lap. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed out during the formation lap hitting the wall after aqua-planing. During the race, Fernando Alonso crashed into the wall after he was clipped by Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz also crashed. There was a contact incident in the pit-lane when Red Bull's Max Verstappen pulled out into Antonelli. The Dutchman was penalised 10 points for 'unsafe release' leaving him in 17th place. Norris, who won the Miami GP last year, came out of the pits just ahead of Piastri and was helped by the race ending under the safety car after the Alonso crash. 'My luck in Miami seems pretty good at the minute, so I'm happy,' said Norris. 'The pace was still very good but it's so difficult these races. Do you box early like Lewis, or stay out and hope for a Safety Car. I'd rather this happened tomorrow but I'll take it,' he added, after a victory which reduced the gap on Piastri in the drivers' standings from ten to nine points. Hamilton 'gamble' pays off After his aggressive start and controlling the race for long stretches, Piastri was frustrated at not having the chance to fight back on the final laps but was turning his focus to Saturday's qualifying. 'I did pretty much everything right. A bit disappointed to come away with second but that's how it goes sometimes. Racing is a pretty cruel business. 'Hopefully that means I get a bit of luck this afternoon in qualifying and tomorrow. 'But, another great start and I had to get my elbows out in that one. Happy with what I did,' Piastri said. Hamilton benefitted from being the first of the frontrunners to switch to slicks and was delighted to be on the podium having won the sprint race in China. 'It's the first time we've been on track in the wet here and what a race it provided us,' said the Briton. 'I really, really did struggle on the inters – everyone was struggling on them. I made that call at that end and I said I'm coming in because I was going nowhere. Take the risk, take the gamble and it paid off. 'I wish we had another couple of laps to give these guys a bit of a fight, but big congrats to McLaren.'
Newsweek
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Charles Leclerc Crashes Before F1 Miami Sprint Race Even Begins
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Charles Leclerc has crashed ahead of the Miami Grand Prix sprint race as the rain came down heavily during warm up laps. Aquaplaning into the wall on intermediate tires, he heavily damaged the right side of his SF-25. With his car stopped in the middle sector of the track, it will be taken back to the pits and retired for the sprint race with the Monegasque out of the race he was starting 6th on the grid for. Not the way we wanted to start the day :disappointed: A soaking track has caught @Charles_Leclerc out on his way to the grid, and slides into the wall — Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 3, 2025 Lewis Hamilton, teammate to Leclerc, commented on the tire choice: "I don't know how you put us out on inters!" he said through the radio. Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc gets ready before the 2025 Miami Formula One Sprint at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 3, 2025. Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc gets ready before the 2025 Miami Formula One Sprint at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 3, 2025. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images Charles Leclerc hits the wall!! :scream: With rain falling heavily, Leclerc sustains heavy damage on his way to the grid after contact with the wall#F1 #F1Sprint #MiamiGP — Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2025 Since the crash, Leclerc was noted for driving unsafely due to the conditions according to the Sky Sports F1 broadcast.
