Charles Leclerc revealed the Ferrari SF-25 is that tough to drive he should danger hitting the wall to safe a great end result, after qualifying fifth on the Components 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Monegasque was five-tenths off polesitter Max Verstappen, whereas team-mate Lewis Hamilton solely completed sixteenth for what was his fourth, consecutive Q1 exit (together with sprints).
It got here after Hamilton suffered an early finish to FP3 attributable to a crash at Yas Marina’s Flip 9, persevering with what has been a torrid season for Ferrari, which is able to end fourth within the championship whatever the end result on Sunday.
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That’s regardless of beginning the 2025 marketing campaign with title hopes having completed runner-up final yr, however this season it has failed to assert a grand prix victory with only one spherical remaining.
So, when requested about Hamilton’s struggles and the issue of the Ferrari, Leclerc stated: “I am driving the automobile as nicely and I can see how difficult the automobile is – how you have simply bought to go full dedication and it is both within the wall or by means of Q1.
“Then you might want to do the identical in Q2 after which you might want to do the identical in Q3 and, yeah, I do know what it is prefer to have a automobile that’s… and in addition for the understanding of the automobile, it is way more obscure one thing from the automobile once you actually must push to absolutely the restrict.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Mario Renzi – Components 1 – Getty Photos
“In Q2 I assumed I might put it into the wall fairly a couple of occasions and that makes it tough to additionally enhance the automobile – most likely the McLaren or Purple Bull do by pushing a bit of bit much less in Q1 and Q2, you perceive extra about what is going on on with the automobile. So, yeah, it is a difficult scenario we’re in.”
Leclerc has loved loads of highs since becoming a member of Ferrari in 2019, from successful the Monaco Grand Prix to 2 victories on the Scuderia’s dwelling occasion in Monza.
However 2025 has featured little optimistic moments for the 28-year-old, forcing him to be buoyed from a easy fifth-placed end result when at one second it appeared as if Leclerc could exit Q2.
“It was very difficult however largely that second lap in Q2 was very, very tough to handle and to complete the lap. I used to be really fairly completely satisfied that I completed it,” he added.
“On prime of that it helped us to go to Q3. I used to be happy – it hurts to be happy with a P5 however in the meanwhile that is the scenario we’re in, and the one factor I can take is the little happiness every time we maximise our automobile bundle. And I believe that is precisely what we have performed right this moment, however P5 is disappointing.”
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