FIA announce late flurry of penalties as Miami Grand Prix sprint race r… read more
The 2025 Miami Grand Prix sprint race delivered a dramatic turn of events long after the chequered flag had waved, as Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, announced a late wave of penalties that reshaped the final standings. The sprint race, held at the Miami International Autodrome, had already been packed with action and unexpected twists, but the FIA’s post-race verdicts added another layer of controversy and disappointment for several drivers who initially looked set to score valuable points.
Before the race even officially began, chaos struck when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed on his way to the grid due to heavy rain showers. The Monegasque driver ruled himself out of the sprint session entirely, setting the tone for what would become a turbulent afternoon. With the unpredictable weather and heightened tension on the grid, the Miami sprint quickly turned into a high-stakes contest, where every move was under intense scrutiny.
As per the sprint format rules, only the top eight finishers are awarded championship points. Initially, the results seemed straightforward, with Williams driver Alex Albon achieving an impressive P4 finish, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson placing P7, and Haas rookie Ollie Bearman securing P8. However, these achievements were short-lived. After a thorough post-race review, the FIA issued penalties to all three drivers, disqualifying them from the points-paying positions and reshaping the final classification.
The stewards had summoned four drivers following the race for various incidents that occurred during the sprint. Of those, three were handed five-second time penalties. The most impactful penalty was given to Alex Albon, who was found to have breached safety car regulations. According to the FIA, Albon failed to stay above the minimum time set by the car’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) while following the safety car, a rule designed to maintain consistent gaps and prevent dangerous speeding under caution.
Liam Lawson also found himself in hot water after a collision with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. The contact caused Alonso to spin out, which ultimately triggered a late safety car and led to his third DNF (Did Not Finish) of the 2025 season. The stewards ruled Lawson at fault for the incident and handed him a five-second penalty for causing a collision, demoting him out of the points and into P13.
The third driver penalized was Ollie Bearman of Haas. The young Briton was found guilty of an unsafe release from the pit lane, which forced teammate Nico Hulkenberg to swerve violently to avoid a crash. Unsafe releases are taken seriously in Formula 1 due to the potential for serious accidents in the pit lane, and Bearman’s infraction cost him dearly. His five-second penalty saw him fall from P8 to P14, erasing what had initially been a promising result.
Once the penalties were applied, the final classification shifted significantly. Albon fell from fourth to eleventh, Lawson from seventh to thirteenth, and Bearman from eighth to fourteenth. This reshuffle opened the door for other drivers to move into the points, benefitting those who had kept their noses clean throughout the chaotic sprint.
The FIA’s decisions underscore the strict regulatory environment in Formula 1, especially under the increasingly scrutinized sprint format. While these penalties will undoubtedly frustrate the affected drivers and their teams, they serve as a reminder that every detail counts—from adherence to safety protocols to precise pit lane operations. As the championship continues, teams will be more vigilant than ever, knowing that even the smallest misstep can result in a significant loss of points and position. The Miami Grand Prix sprint race may have ended on track, but its aftermath proved just as consequential.
