Lewis Hamilton’s Bad Day Turns Worse at Miami Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton faced significant setbacks during the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race, which escalated to a severe post-race penalty. His efforts were further hampered by difficult on-track duels, notably with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.

In what unfolded as a day mired by challenges for Lewis Hamilton, the Miami Grand Prix Sprint did not go according to plan for the Mercedes team. Starting with a poor setup on his W15 which resulted in lots of drag and therefore low high-speed performance, matters only deteriorated for Hamilton as the race stewards later gave him a harsh 20-second penalty after the race for speeding in the pitlane – a difficult penalty to swallow with the race featuring no pit stops. Originally finishing eighth, this penalty pushed him out of the points, amplifying the disappointment for the Brackley outfit.

Hamilton’s performance was notably hindered by the lack of straight line performance. His attempts to claw himself up the grid and into a points position were compromised by a grueling duel with Magnussen. This battle not only cost him valuable time but was also steeped in controversy due to the aggressive maneuvers from the Danish driver. Magnussen, too, faced several penalties throughout the race, receiving a total of 25 seconds in added time for various infractions including track limit violations and dangerous driving.

Amidst this melee, Max Verstappen demonstrated a mastery of the Miami street track, steering his RB20 to a clear victory from pole position. His teammate, Sergio Perez, secured a valuable third place, contributing significantly to Red Bull’s points tally. Charles Leclerc managed to part the Adrian Newey machinery, maintaining a competitive pace throughout the race.

Daniel Ricciardo, who has struggled so far this season in his RB car, displayed a burst of competitiveness, initially overtaking Perez, though he was unable to defend this position for long, eventually finishing fourth. His performance, however, signaled a potential return to form, showcasing an aggressive race strategy that could spell more points for RB if consistently applied.

As the Sprint concluded, Mercedes was left to reassess their strategy, especially given the challenges posed by the car’s performance under the Miami heat.

“I think that’s pretty honest for him – and I think that’s pretty cool,” Hamilton admitted to Sky Sports F1 during their broadcast in regards to his battles with Magnussen. “We had a good race. It was a little bit on the edge in some places but that’s what I love. I love racing hard and, for me, I wasn’t really frustrated or anything.

“That’s what you do to work as a team so bravo.”