Charles Leclerc remains optimistic about Ferrari’s chances of securing the constructors’ championship on Sunday. The Scuderia needs to make up twenty-one points on rival McLaren during the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Leclerc surprisingly dropped out early in Q2 after his lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits. To make matters worse, he had already received a ten-place grid penalty.
“That was not good,” Charles Leclerc responded shortly after qualifying. “We were better than I showed, but McLaren has always been too strong for us – we could never have beaten them.” Lando Norris took pole position at the Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday, with teammate Oscar Piastri following in P2. “I could have been fourth,” Leclerc sighed disappointedly. Knowing he would already receive a ten-place grid penalty, he regrets not being able to maximize. “It would always have been P15 or P20,” he admitted. “With P20, we’re not making it easy for ourselves. But I am motivated to do something special on Sunday. Ultimately, Charles Leclerc will start from P19. Williams driver Franco Colapinto, who qualified nineteenth, also received a grid penalty and is therefore the last starter in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari is vying for victory in the Constructors’ Championship on Sunday. If the team wants to win the title, it must score a one-two in Abu Dhabi, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in fourth and fifth place. A tough task, now that the papayas are on the first starting row and Charles Leclerc is starting from P19.
‘I Believe in Miracles’
Yet, the Monegasque remains positive. “My goal remains the same: we want to win the Constructors’ Championship,” he said. “I still believe in it as much as I did yesterday, even though it seems difficult on paper. I believe in miracles. It’s going to be very tough, especially with the grid penalty, but I see a chance to do something very special.”
Leclerc takes comfort in the thought that Ferrari’s race pace looked promising. “We were fast, but McLaren seemed a bit stronger. We significantly changed the car after the third free practice, and I think we went in the right direction. If there’s anything positive, it’s that our tire degradation seems better than others.”
