Breaking News: FIA Confirms Deleted Lap Time for Lewis Hamilton at Miami Grand Prix After T…read more
FIA Confirms Deleted Lap Time for Lewis Hamilton at Miami Grand Prix After Track Limits Violation
The FIA has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton’s fastest lap in Sprint Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix has been officially deleted after the Mercedes driver exceeded track limits during his flying run in SQ3.
Hamilton initially posted a lap that would have placed him P5 on the Sprint grid, but race stewards ruled that all four wheels of his car left the racing surface at Turn 14 — a clear violation under F1’s strict track limits policy.
In an official statement, the FIA said: “Car 44 exceeded track limits during SQ3 at Turn 14. As per regulation, the lap time has been deleted, and the driver’s final classification has been adjusted accordingly.”
As a result, Hamilton drops from P5 to P8 on the Sprint starting grid, a blow to his hopes of mounting an early challenge in Saturday’s short-format race.
Speaking after the session, a visibly disappointed Hamilton said, “It was a strong lap, and the car felt great. But rules are rules. I just pushed a bit too hard — I’ll have to make up for it in the race.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also commented, saying, “It’s unfortunate, especially considering how tight the midfield is. But we accept the decision. Lewis is more than capable of fighting back.”
Track limits have been a contentious issue all season, and this latest incident adds to the growing number of deleted laps across multiple weekends.
Hamilton will now start behind key rivals including Verstappen, Piastri, and Norris, making the Sprint a tougher challenge as he looks to climb back into points contention.
With tensions high and the Miami heat rising, Saturday’s Sprint is shaping up to be another dramatic chapter in the 2025 season.
