AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Charles Leclerc rallies Ferrari to deliver ‘something special’ after qualifying fifth in Qatar

Harry Stone by Harry Stone
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Charles Leclerc rallies Ferrari to deliver ‘something special’ after qualifying fifth in Qatar

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 30, 2024 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action during qualifying REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Charles Leclerc’s bid to keep Ferrari’s Constructors’ Championship hopes alive took a hit at the Qatar Grand Prix, with the Monegasque driver qualifying fifth on the grid. As McLaren continues to surge ahead, Leclerc has called for a heroic effort from his team to turn the tide in their uphill battle against the British squad.


Qatar setback: Ferrari outpaced by McLaren and rivals

Ferrari’s weekend began with promise as Leclerc topped FP1, but that early momentum failed to translate into meaningful results. The Scuderia struggled to match McLaren’s one-lap pace at the Lusail International Circuit, leaving Leclerc in fifth and teammate Carlos Sainz in sixth, trailing McLaren’s locked-out second row.

“Honestly, today was the best we could do,” Leclerc admitted. “There was very little between us—just a few hundredths—but there wasn’t anything more in the car.”

Leclerc’s disappointment comes as McLaren secured a commanding one-two in the Sprint race, extending their advantage over Ferrari to 30 points in the Constructors’ standings. With just two races remaining, the pressure on Ferrari has never been greater.


Ferrari tweaks fail to deliver game-changing results

Leclerc revealed that Ferrari had made small but meaningful adjustments to the SF-24 between sessions, improving the car’s handling but not its outright performance. “We fine-tuned a lot of things,” he explained. “The car felt a lot better, but ultimately, the performance is what it is.”

The gulf in pace became evident as Max Verstappen rebounded from a challenging Sprint race to claim pole position for Red Bull, while George Russell’s Mercedes joined him on the front row. Ferrari found itself unexpectedly outpaced by both teams, compounding their battle with McLaren.


McLaren rivalry: Ferrari clings to race-day hope

Despite being outqualified by McLaren, Leclerc remains optimistic about Ferrari’s race pace, which he believes is closer to their rivals than anticipated. “We are much closer to McLaren than we thought,” he said. “However, compared to Mercedes and Red Bull, it’s another story.”

Leclerc also acknowledged the mixed blessing of having Mercedes and Red Bull in the mix, noting that their presence could either help or hinder Ferrari’s bid for crucial points. “If we overtake them at the start, I’d prefer they weren’t there. If we’re behind, then I hope they hold their positions.”


The fight for survival: Ferrari’s need to overperform

With the Constructors’ Championship slipping further out of reach, Leclerc emphasized the urgency of outperforming expectations. “If we want to win the Constructors, we’ve got to finish ahead this weekend. We can’t just settle for the points available—we need to overperform.”

Ferrari heads into Sunday’s race with one goal: to claw back vital points on McLaren and keep their title hopes alive heading into the Abu Dhabi finale. Leclerc remains determined, calling for a “special” performance to salvage their championship aspirations.


Conclusion: Ferrari’s last stand in Qatar

The Qatar Grand Prix could mark a turning point in Ferrari’s season, as Leclerc and Sainz face the daunting task of taking on a resurgent McLaren while fending off Red Bull and Mercedes. For Leclerc, the mission is clear: defy the odds, outperform expectations, and keep Ferrari’s championship hopes alive.

As the grid prepares for battle, Ferrari’s drivers will need to summon every ounce of skill, strategy, and determination to keep their campaign alive. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the margin for error is razor-thin. Can Leclerc and Ferrari deliver under pressure, or will McLaren extend their dominance? All eyes are on Lusail as the drama unfolds.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Stolen legacy: thieves raid family of Jules Bianchi, stealing his irreplaceable kart and memories
Motorsports

Stolen legacy: thieves raid family of Jules Bianchi, stealing his irreplaceable kart and memories

SHOCKING THE MOTORSPORT WORLD: Jules Bianchi's Last Kart STOLEN from Family in Despicable Burglary! In an act that has left...

by Miguel Cunha
January 7, 2026
F1’s financial revolution: $1.6 billion prize pool reshapes teams’ futures and fortunes
Motorsports

F1’s financial revolution: $1.6 billion prize pool reshapes teams’ futures and fortunes

Formula 1: A $3.7 Billion Revenue Machine with $1.6 Billion in Prize Money Up for Grabs! In the high-octane world...

by Arthur Ling
January 7, 2026
Helmut Marko reveals shocking truth about F1 pressure: why so many champions collapse under strain
Motorsports

Helmut Marko reveals shocking truth about F1 pressure: why so many champions collapse under strain

Joerg Mitter / Red Bull Content Pool

by Arthur Ling
January 7, 2026
Lance Stroll’s secret weapon: is he the new Kimi Raikkonen of Formula 1?
Motorsports

Lance Stroll’s secret weapon: is he the new Kimi Raikkonen of Formula 1?

2025 Getty Images

by Simon Monroy
January 7, 2026

Recent News

Stolen legacy: thieves raid family of Jules Bianchi, stealing his irreplaceable kart and memories

Stolen legacy: thieves raid family of Jules Bianchi, stealing his irreplaceable kart and memories

January 7, 2026
F1’s financial revolution: $1.6 billion prize pool reshapes teams’ futures and fortunes

F1’s financial revolution: $1.6 billion prize pool reshapes teams’ futures and fortunes

January 7, 2026
Helmut Marko reveals shocking truth about F1 pressure: why so many champions collapse under strain

Helmut Marko reveals shocking truth about F1 pressure: why so many champions collapse under strain

January 7, 2026
Lance Stroll’s secret weapon: is he the new Kimi Raikkonen of Formula 1?

Lance Stroll’s secret weapon: is he the new Kimi Raikkonen of Formula 1?

January 7, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.