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Charles Leclerc Braces for Ferrari’s Uphill Battle in Qatar: “We’ll Do Our Best”

Publisher by Publisher
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Charles Leclerc Braces for Ferrari’s Uphill Battle in Qatar: “We’ll Do Our Best”

Nov 22, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Scuderia Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco (16) drives during qualifiers for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024 at the Las Vegas Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Charles Leclerc has tempered expectations ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, admitting Ferrari faces an uphill struggle to close the gap to McLaren in the battle for the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. With just two races left in the 2024 season, Ferrari trails McLaren by 24 points, leaving little room for error.


Ferrari’s Late Surge in Las Vegas

Ferrari made strides in Las Vegas, where Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz secured a solid points haul, finishing fourth and third respectively. Despite those gains, the SF-24 didn’t emerge as the dominant package some had predicted. Instead, Mercedes stole the show with a commanding 1-2 finish, led by George Russell.

That performance underlined Ferrari’s struggle to consistently challenge McLaren, Mercedes, and even Red Bull. Heading into the penultimate round in Qatar, the odds are stacked against Ferrari at a circuit favoring high-speed cornering—an area where McLaren’s MCL38 excels.


Leclerc: “I Expect It to Be Tricky”

Leclerc was realistic about Ferrari’s chances at the Lusail International Circuit, describing the weekend as critical for their championship hopes but admitting it’s a tall order.

“I think they [McLaren] are going to be very strong in Qatar, so we’ve got to have a good weekend,” Leclerc said. “I would be very surprised if we recover points from them. But we’ve got to, so we’ll do our best. I expect it to be tricky.”

With McLaren looking particularly strong on high-speed circuits and Mercedes and Red Bull also in the mix, Leclerc acknowledged the challenge Ferrari faces to remain competitive.


Sainz Echoes Caution

Carlos Sainz, who has consistently delivered for Ferrari in recent weeks, shared Leclerc’s cautious outlook, highlighting that Ferrari might not have the tools to fight at the sharp end of the grid in Qatar.

“I expect McLaren and Mercedes to be very strong, and even Red Bull, given their form in Austin,” Sainz explained. “In Qatar, the maximum might be a P5 or P6 because with this car on a track like that, I expect to struggle.”

Sainz emphasized the importance of maximizing every opportunity, stating Ferrari will need to capitalize on whatever points are available to stay in the fight.


A Two-Race Sprint to the Finish

With only Abu Dhabi remaining after Qatar, Ferrari must deliver a near-flawless performance to keep their title hopes alive. McLaren has momentum on their side, and Ferrari’s SF-24 has shown inconsistencies in adapting to different circuit demands.

While Ferrari’s resurgence has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season, both drivers acknowledge that Qatar could tilt the scales decisively in McLaren’s favor. For Ferrari, the task is clear: outperform their rivals on a circuit that doesn’t play to their strengths. Whether they can rise to the challenge remains to be seen.

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