Tensions escalated in Miami. In the midst of a fierce on-track battle, Charles Leclerc vented his frustration over the radio after a collision with young sensation Kimi Antonelli. This heated exchange dominated the weekend… before calm was restored a few hours later.
Leclerc – Antonelli: a high-tension exchange
From the very start of the sprint race, the two drivers found themselves wheel to wheel in an intense battle. But the head-to-head turned into an incident, and Leclerc does not hide his annoyance.
"Kimi is really bad at wheel-to-wheel duels!"he blurted out furiously on the radio.
"It moved when braking... we were about to collide, it's incredible!" »
A spontaneous reaction, revealing the extreme pressure on the track, but also the competitive nature of the driver Ferrari, rarely so expressive in public.
A cold start… and mea culpa
A few hours later, the tone changed. In front of the media, Leclerc admitted to having crossed the line.
« Perhaps I was a bit harsh. With the adrenaline pumping in the car, you can't always control everything. “, he admits.
"I was very angry at the time, but it was probably excessive." »
The Monegasque even wants to calm things down with Antonelliwhich he respects despite the incident.
“I really appreciate Kimi as a person. But on the track, sometimes it’s a bit too much… and not necessarily necessary.” »
Antonelli responds on the track
Affected but not destabilized, Antonelli responded in the best possible way. Despite a penalty during the sprint, the Italian bounced back by securing pole position… before winning the main race. A striking contrast with Leclercwhose weekend ended in disaster after a mistake in the final laps, ultimately relegating him out of contention for the win.
A rivalry that is only just beginning?
Between youthful exuberance and experience under pressure, the duel Leclerc–Antonelli It could well become one of the major soap operas of the 2026 season. Miami may have only been the first episode.
🗣️ Leclerc exonerates himself with Antonelli on his cabreo on the radio
“Mis comments han sido demasiado extremos”#MiamiDAZNF1 ???????? pic.twitter.com/J33qYQF0Am
- DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) May 2, 2026
