Charles Leclerc is refusing to surrender on Ferrari’s hopes of profitable the 2024 F1 constructors’ championship regardless of his Q2 exit on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Leclerc was a shock early elimination in qualifying on the Yas Marina Circuit after his finest lap time was deleted for exceeding monitor limits.
To compound Leclerc’s disappointment, he’s set to start out from the again of the grid as a consequence of a 10-place grid penalty for an engine change.
Reflecting on qualifying, Leclerc stated: “Not so good after a qualifying like that. We have been a bit bit higher. It’s true that I don’t assume we might have managed to beat the McLarens, they appeared too robust, however we might have been fourth.
“It was both P15 or P20 and P15 is best than P20. But when I get my laptime deleted it means we begin from P20. We do not make our life any simpler. Nevertheless it motivates me to do one thing very particular tomorrow.
“My aim stays the identical: it’s to win the constructors’ championship. And I nonetheless imagine in it as a lot as I did yesterday, despite the fact that on paper clearly it’s going to be exhausting.”
Even with out Leclerc’s lap deletion and engine penalty, the percentages are closely in McLaren’s favour.
McLaren are 21 factors forward of Ferrari going into Sunday’s race.
This implies Ferrari want a 1-2 end with McLaren’s drivers classifying fourth and fifth at finest.
Leclerc says he believes “in miracles” regardless of his lowly beginning place for the race.
“I imagine in miracles,” he added. “It makes our life very troublesome, that’s for positive. However with the 10-place grid penalty it was all the time going to be troublesome. However I see a possibility to do one thing very particular and I’ll do my finest to do it.
“I’ll imagine in it till the final lap. Something can occur.”
Ferrari count on to be “in a greater place”
Ferrari have sometimes carried out higher on race day this 12 months, which is in stark distinction to 2023.
Leclerc is assured Ferrari will probably be in a “higher place” within the race relative to qualifying.
“The race tempo was OK, however McLaren gave the impression to be quite a bit stronger,” he added. “We’ve modified the automobile fairly a bit since FP3. I feel we went in the correct path.
“If something, our tyre degradation is best than others’, so I might count on to be in a greater place.”
