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FIA Deletes Hamilton’s Lap in Miami Sprint Qualifying – Ferrari Struggles with Pace
The FIA has released the official list of lap deletions from the 2025 Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying session, confirming that Lewis Hamilton was among several drivers penalized for exceeding track limits. The seven-time world champion, now driving for Ferrari, had one of his laps invalidated after he was found to have run wide at Turn 17. Fortunately for Hamilton, the deleted time did not impact his final grid position, and he will still start Saturday’s sprint race from seventh place.
Hamilton wasn’t the only driver to fall afoul of the Miami circuit’s strict boundaries. French rookie Isack Hadjar also lost a lap time, clocked at 1:29.901, due to the same corner. This early setback hindered his chances of progressing through the session. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, currently racing for Williams, had a lap deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 15. The Spaniard already faced a tough qualifying session, and the penalty added to what has been a challenging run of form for both driver and team. Sainz ultimately failed to advance to SQ3, continuing Williams’ difficult season.
Ferrari’s sprint qualifying effort did little to inspire confidence, as both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc struggled to extract performance from their cars. Despite starting inside the top 10, Ferrari’s pace was underwhelming throughout the session. Leclerc will begin the sprint from sixth, just ahead of Hamilton, but both drivers sounded concerned about their prospects in the short-format race.
In post-qualifying interviews, Hamilton acknowledged small improvements but admitted the team was still off the pace. “It was a better session than the last one. The car felt more balanced, and I was able to push a little more. But ultimately, we’re lacking raw speed. We’re working hard, but it’s not enough yet,” he said.
Leclerc shared similar sentiments, noting that while his lap felt strong from the cockpit, the team simply didn’t have the pace to challenge the front. “I gave it everything, but we’re just not fast enough. It’s frustrating to know we’re limited before the race even starts,” the Monegasque driver explained.
This outing in Miami has once again brought Ferrari’s ongoing struggles to the forefront. Despite bringing updates to the car, the team has yet to translate those changes into consistent performance. After showing occasional flashes of speed earlier in the season, Miami represented a step backward, particularly when compared to rivals like Red Bull and McLaren.
Track limits enforcement remained a major talking point, especially at Turn 17, where several drivers were caught out. The FIA continues to enforce a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to exceeding track boundaries, and while it aims to ensure fairness, the strict rulings often frustrate drivers and fans alike. Still, the governing body maintains that consistency is key and will not relax the regulations, regardless of who commits the infraction.
As the sprint race approaches, Ferrari faces an uphill battle. With both drivers starting mid-pack and the team still lacking competitive pace, the focus may shift toward minimizing losses and collecting valuable data ahead of Sunday’s main event. For Hamilton, still adapting to life at Ferrari, the Miami weekend is another indication that the road back to title contention will be far from smooth.
