Leclerc Tried Using Verstappen to Keep Piastri Behind: ‘Good He Has Overtake’

The more Formula 1 drivers learn the subtleties of the series’ new power units, the more inventive they become in how they exploit them.

In Miami, Charles Leclerc tried to use F1’s Overtake Mode defensively in a way reminiscent of past attempts to exploit the Drag Reduction System (DRS), which was removed at the end of last year.

Although Overtake Mode and DRS operate differently — DRS alters the car’s aerodynamics while Overtake Mode provides an energy boost — they share one key restriction: a driver can only activate them when they are within one second of the car ahead.

Both systems were designed to encourage overtaking, but experienced drivers have shown they can also be used to create a “train” effect, where a line of cars remains bunched. Carlos Sainz Jnr famously used this tactic at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, keeping Lando Norris close enough to prevent the pursuing Mercedes duo from taking advantage.

Leclerc tried a similar tactic in Miami. Radio messages to race engineer Bryan Bozzi show that when Leclerc and Oscar Piastri caught Max Verstappen — who was managing older tyres and therefore slower — Leclerc passed Verstappen first. When Bozzi pointed out that Verstappen was now within range of Leclerc’s Overtake Mode, Leclerc explained he planned to use Verstappen to slow Piastri. “It’s good that he has the Overtake,” Leclerc told Bozzi. “At least he can defend a bit more because Piastri is fast.”

Piastri, however, proved quicker. He passed Verstappen with relative ease, closed on Leclerc and overtook him with two laps remaining.

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Leclerc’s race ended painfully when he spun on the final lap, damaging his car and allowing Verstappen and George Russell to pass. He was later penalised for repeatedly cutting corners on that lap, costing him two more positions.

Selected radio messages from Leclerc during the Miami Grand Prix

Earlier in the race Leclerc was irritated by a warning about a slippery track ahead that turned out to be debris, which he ran over.

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Lap: 9/57 LEC: 2’27.484
Leclerc	He needs to push more in the straights, the Safety Car. It’s impossible to warm the [message cuts].
Lap: 10/57 LEC: 2’18.762
Bozzi	Copy, we’ll pass the message.
Lap: 13/57 LEC: 1’34.381
Bozzi	Norris 0.5, slippery track, turn 13.14, possible debris. Norris passes Leclerc entering turn 11
Leclerc	Fuck, it’s not slippery track! It’s debris, man. They need to say, I took it… Check the tyres.
Bozzi	Tyres fine for now. Antonelli passes Leclerc at turn 17, Leclerc repasses him at turn one
Lap: 22/57 LEC: 1’48.975
Leclerc	Why did we stop? When is the rain?
Lap: 31/57 LEC: 1’32.945
Bozzi	Back to mode race.

No further radio messages were recorded from Leclerc after his crash on the final lap.

Lap: 46/57 LEC: 1’33.468
Bozzi	And you have overtake.
Bozzi	Do you want to try mode one?
Lap: 47/57 LEC: 1’33.678
Bozzi	You have overtake.
Leclerc	Yeah I know. [Unclear]
Bozzi	Copy. Radio open.
Lap: 48/57 LEC: 1’32.892
Bozzi	Max, one second with overtake. Piastri behind him.
Leclerc	It’s good that he has the overtake. At least he can defend a bit more because Piastri is fast. He’s fast.
Bozzi	Copy, head down.
Leclerc	Is rain coming?
Bozzi	Negative.

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2026 Miami Grand Prix

• Miami stats: Mercedes have now won at every track on the F1 calendar – so far
• F1 drivers say they are still at the mercy of their power units over a flying lap
• McLaren’s Miami GP radio messages show the scars of Qatar GP tactical error
• ‘This is not the level F1 should be’: Norris tells F1 to ‘ditch the battery’
• Lawson was right: Racing Bulls should not have ordered him to let Verstappen past

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