Gabriele Mini sealed victory in the main race as Formula 2 made its first visit to Miami, with Dino Beganovic second and Rafael Camara third. The result survived post-race scrutiny after the stewards investigated pit-entry infringements by both Mini and Camara during an early Safety Car period.
The controversy stemmed from the first Safety Car intervention, when the field was instructed to follow it through the pit lane. Mini headed toward the pits after passing the bollard that marks the entry, while Camara missed the instruction and continued down the main straight behind then-leader Kush Maini. Both incidents were reviewed but did not trigger time penalties.
According to the stewards, teams were informed at Turn 17 about the order to enter the pit lane, with the message coinciding with a change in the status of the pit-entry lights. They noted that Maini was approximately 50 metres from those lights when the warning was relayed, a factor that contributed to the timing confusion.
Camara explained that he received the instruction too late, after he had already passed the pit entry, which added uncertainty about the reactions of those around him. At the same moment, Stenshorne, who was running second, entered the pits to serve a speeding penalty. The stewards issued Camara a warning, concluding that "not a single driver benefited or was harmed" by his action.
Difficult track conditions compounded the situation, with significantly reduced visibility meaning some drivers received information at different times. The uneven communication flow made it harder for the entire pack to execute the order consistently.
In Mini’s case, he initially stayed out before receiving the directive to enter the pits, but he misjudged the bollard on the way in. He said safety informed his decision-making in that split-second: "I let myself be guided by the instruction they gave me just before making the move," he commented. The stewards acknowledged that Mini contravened the regulations but stressed that safety was the priority and determined that no driver was advantaged or disadvantaged by the error.
In their final assessment, the officials indicated the situation had been poorly managed, with instructions that should have arrived earlier and more clearly to avoid confusion, particularly in the challenging visibility. With that, the podium of Mini, Beganovic and Camara stood as taken at the flag.
What to watch next: this episode is likely to prompt a closer look at communication protocols and pit-entry procedures under the Safety Car in adverse conditions, as teams and officials work to prevent a repeat of the Miami confusion.
Source: formularapida.net