Charles Leclerc admitted he cost himself a podium finish after a dramatic error during the closing stages of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, ultimately dropping from third place to finish sixth in a race marked by both high drama and missed opportunities for Ferrari.

The Ferrari driver revealed that a risky decision on the penultimate lap proved decisive, as he attempted to strategically allow Oscar Piastri through in hopes of reclaiming position later. However, the move backfired, leading to a series of mistakes that saw him lose multiple places in quick succession during the final laps of the race.

Leclerc described the moment as a critical misjudgment, acknowledging that his aggressive push resulted in a loss of control. The incident included a significant spin and contact with the barriers, which further compromised his position. Despite managing to continue, the damage and lost momentum proved too costly to recover from before the checkered flag.

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The Monaco driver was also placed under investigation by race stewards for repeatedly exceeding track limits and potentially driving an unsafe car in the final lap. Leclerc stated he was uncertain about any possible penalties but emphasized that the situation inside the cockpit was more challenging than it may have appeared from the outside.

Ferrari’s struggles were compounded by a disappointing outing for teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished seventh after encountering early race damage. The seven-time world champion reported a loss of performance following first-lap contact involving Franco Colapinto, while Max Verstappen was also involved in early-race drama after spinning.

The race unfolded on an emotional day for Italian motorsport, as teenage talent Kimi Antonelli secured his third consecutive victory from pole position, leading a strong performance for Mercedes. The win came amid tributes to late racing legend Alessandro Zanardi, adding a poignant backdrop to a race that highlighted both emerging brilliance and costly errors at the top level of Formula One.

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