Charles Leclerc delivered a breathtaking recovery drive from P19 to finish third at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but his valiant effort wasn’t enough to secure Ferrari the Constructors’ Championship, as McLaren clinched the title by 14 points. The Monegasque driver’s disappointment was palpable, overshadowing what could have been one of the most celebrated drives of his Formula 1 career.
A Herculean Effort in Vain
Starting from the back row after a 10-place grid penalty for a new energy store and a Q2 elimination due to a track limits violation, Leclerc faced a monumental challenge. Yet, he electrified fans with an extraordinary first lap, climbing 11 places to eighth—an opening lap he described as “the best I’ve ever done in Formula 1.”
“I knew it was a tough ask,” Leclerc said. “But after that first lap, I started to believe in the miracle. We just fell short.”
As the race unfolded, Leclerc capitalized on incidents ahead, including Oscar Piastri’s Turn 1 spin, to methodically work his way through the field. By the closing stages, both Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz were on the podium, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Lando Norris, who led McLaren to victory and sealed the championship.
McLaren’s Dominance Steals the Show
Ferrari entered the weekend trailing McLaren by 21 points, knowing the odds were stacked against them. Even with Leclerc’s heroic performance and Sainz’s consistent pace, the relentless speed of McLaren’s Lando Norris proved insurmountable.
“You don’t lose a championship in one race,” Leclerc admitted. “This hurts because we came so close. But McLaren simply did a better job across the season. Congratulations to them—they deserve it.”
A Season of Near Misses
The Yas Marina finale encapsulated Ferrari’s season: moments of brilliance overshadowed by inconsistencies and missed opportunities. Leclerc’s grid penalty, which set the tone for the weekend, was emblematic of Ferrari’s struggle to deliver a flawless campaign.
Leclerc dismissed speculation that a better qualifying result could have changed the outcome, highlighting the inevitability of starting deep in the pack due to his penalty.
“Even if I’d qualified P4, I would have started P14,” Leclerc said. “It’s easy to say now, but I don’t think we had what it took to beat McLaren outright. My first lap recovered everything we lost earlier in the weekend, so I have no regrets.”
Looking Ahead: Lessons Learned
Leclerc’s podium in Abu Dhabi, though bittersweet, reinforces his reputation as one of the grid’s most determined drivers. While Ferrari fell short in the title battle, Leclerc remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory heading into 2025.
“We’ve shown we can fight,” he said. “This hurts, but it also motivates us to come back stronger next year. We’ve learned a lot, and I believe in this team. We’ll take the fight to them again.”
The Final Word
As the checkered flag fell at Yas Marina, Leclerc’s frustration was evident, hitting his steering wheel in a rare display of emotion. For Ferrari fans, his drive symbolized both the promise and the heartbreak of the 2024 season—a campaign of resilience, close calls, and unfinished business.
While McLaren celebrates their first Constructors’ Championship since 1998, Leclerc and Ferrari leave Abu Dhabi determined to write a different story next year.
