Breaking: FIA announce deleted lap verdict for Lewis Hamilton at……read more
FIA announce deleted lap verdict for Lewis Hamilton at……read more
Sprint qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix delivered some subtle drama on Friday as the FIA released a list of deleted lap times due to track limits violations. One notable name on the list was seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who saw one of his lap times removed after exceeding track limits at Turn 17. Despite this setback, Hamilton avoided major consequences, as the deleted lap was not one of his competitive efforts. He managed to retain his P7 starting position for the sprint race scheduled on Saturday.
Hamilton wasn’t the only driver penalized for track limits infringements during the session. Isack Hadjar also found himself in trouble early on after recording a 1:29.901 lap, only to have it deleted for going wide at Turn 17. Carlos Sainz became the third driver cited for a track limits violation, this time at Turn 15. While Hamilton and Hadjar were able to stay in contention despite their deleted laps, Sainz faced a particularly rough session and failed to make it into SQ3, adding to a disappointing day for the Williams driver.
Interestingly, the session wasn’t particularly favorable for Hamilton’s supposed Ferrari team—though that seems to be an error, as Hamilton is still racing for Mercedes. However, both Ferrari drivers also appeared to struggle. Charles Leclerc, despite making it through to SQ3, couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity and will line up P6 for the sprint—just one place ahead of Hamilton. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, fared worse and failed to advance to the final stage of qualifying.
Overall, sprint qualifying in Miami didn’t deliver standout performances from the heavy hitters. The top teams appeared to be wrestling with car setup and tire performance in the Miami heat, and multiple drivers seemed to be pushing the limits—literally—as the FIA had its hands full reviewing potential violations. The removal of laps due to exceeding track limits has become an increasing point of contention in Formula 1, and this qualifying session further illustrated how small mistakes can carry real consequences.
Hamilton’s deleted lap sparked some chatter among fans, but it ultimately had no bearing on his grid position. Nonetheless, it highlighted how even the most experienced drivers can fall afoul of the tight regulations governing modern F1. With sprint races becoming a more regular feature of the calendar, the pressure to perform over shorter sessions continues to intensify.
As the sprint approaches, the field looks relatively balanced in terms of competition behind the front-runners. With Hamilton starting from P7 and Leclerc just ahead in P6, the midfield battle could become one of the highlights of the sprint event. Both drivers will be eager to make up ground and potentially turn around what has, so far, been a subdued weekend.
The FIA’s enforcement of track limits is not likely to loosen up any time soon, and drivers will need to be increasingly precise if they hope to maximize qualifying performance. Saturday’s sprint race now holds even more intrigue, with several top drivers out of position and hungry to advance.
