Charles Leclerc just isn’t giving up on profitable the constructors’ championship with Ferrari, regardless of a poor qualifying session that leaves him in the back of the grid.
Ferrari is 21 factors behind McLaren going into the ultimate race of the season in Abu Dhabi because the Scuderia goals for a primary crew title since 2008.
Nonetheless, with McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locking out the entrance row on the Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari’s dwindling probabilities have been solely additional hit when Leclerc noticed a lap time deleted for exceeding observe limits, seeing him eradicated in Q2.
Learn Additionally:
Having already taken a 10-place grid penalty for a brand new battery, Leclerc will fall to the again of the pack however, with team-mate Carlos Sainz a minimum of up in third, the Monegasque is conserving the religion.
“I imagine in miracles. Generally once more, it makes our life very troublesome, that is for positive,” he mentioned.
“With the 10-place grid penalty, it was at all times going to be troublesome, however I see a chance to do one thing very particular, and I will do my greatest to do it. And I will imagine in it till the final lap – all the things can occur.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
Amongst a poor weekend, Leclerc did go quickest in first observe, a session by which he drove alongside youthful brother Arthur.
“The race tempo was okay, however McLaren gave the impression to be so much stronger,” he added.
“However once more, we have modified fairly a bit the automobile since FP3, so I believe we went in the best path. And if something, our tyre degradation is healthier than others. So I’d count on to be in a superb place tomorrow.”
Sainz, who will race for the ultimate time for Ferrari earlier than he’s changed by Lewis Hamilton subsequent season, might be hoping to push the McLaren duo from the very begin on Sunday afternoon.
“I believe we have made some good progress via the weekend. I believe McLaren have confirmed all weekend that they seem to be a little bit of a step forward in comparison with everybody, actually,” he mentioned.
Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Group, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, speak in Parc Ferme
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
“We have been simply there behind, two or three tenths off. When it got here to Q1 and Q2 it seemed like we have been getting a bit nearer. I put collectively some actually good laps in Q1 and Q2 however then in Q3, once they put all the things collectively, they nonetheless had this little benefit over us.
“Anyway, nonetheless a race to do tomorrow, and we’ll give it all the things to see if we are able to win that race and provides ourselves one of the best likelihood.”
Sainz will depart for Williams subsequent season, and he’s eager to take pleasure in difficult on the prime of the sphere earlier than switching to a squad seeking to progress up the grid within the coming years.
“Nicely, I will give it all the things. Already right this moment, I used to be pushing and qualifying like by no means earlier than, , as a result of I needed the pole place,” he mentioned.
“I needed to provide myself a superb likelihood for tomorrow, because it is likely to be my final battle for a win or for a podium shortly, however on the identical time, yeah, having fun with as a lot as doable this final weekend, pushing flat out and tomorrow nothing to lose, so we’ll go for it.
“If I am very sincere with you, I’ve not very been very emotional this weekend, simply because the extent of focus is so excessive and there is a lot at stake with the chance to win and to battle for the constructors’ that I do not actually get any time to essentially give it some thought and let it sink in.”
Images from Abu Dhabi GP Apply & Qualifying
On this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Method 1
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e-mail updates on these subjects
Subscribe to information alerts
