Charles Leclerc calls for Ferrari investigation after Miami GP performance drop-off

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is urging the team to investigate a sudden performance drop-off during the Miami Grand Prix. After leading on the opening lap and fighting for a podium, Leclerc spun on the final lap, picked up a 20-second penalty for track limits, and finished eighth. He pointed to severe tire degradation as the culprit, especially on the medium compound.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's inconsistent race pace is a growing concern. Leclerc's strong Sprint race performance (P3) evaporated on Sunday, leaving the team questioning their understanding of tire management. With the championship battle tightening, any recurrent weakness could cost valuable points.

The details:

• Race unraveling: Leclerc passed Piastri for third early, but fell back as tire degradation set in. A last-lap spin at Turn 1, followed by repeated track limits violations, netted a 20-second penalty and dropped him to P8 behind Russell and Verstappen.
• Tire woes: "On the medium we weren't strong. We were degrading a massive amount," Leclerc told GPblog. The hard tire improved later but never matched Sprint pace.
• Investigation call: Leclerc wants Ferrari to understand why performance dropped so sharply between Saturday and Sunday. "We need to look at it. We've lost a lot of performance compared to yesterday."
• Pattern or anomaly? Leclerc doesn't yet see a trend: "I don't think it's a pattern, but let's wait a few more races." Miami isn't the first race where Ferrari's race pace faded.

Between the lines:

Leclerc also defended the 2026 regulation tweaks, disagreeing with Verstappen's "Mario Kart" criticism. "I've always disagreed a little bit... the overtaking is really good. It's a bit more strategic than last year," he said. His comments highlight a divide among drivers on the new rules.

What's next:

Ferrari will pore over Miami data before the next race. If Leclerc's tire degradation issue persists, it could derail their title hopes. A competitive car on Sunday, not just Saturday, is the target.