Charles Leclerc remains defiantly optimistic heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite a disastrous qualifying session that sees him starting 19th on the grid. With Ferrari needing to overturn a 21-point deficit to McLaren to claim the Constructors’ Championship, the Monegasque driver acknowledges the steep odds but refuses to give up.
A Mountain to Climb
Leclerc’s weekend unraveled in Q2 when a track limits violation erased his best lap, leaving him 14th in qualifying. A 10-place grid penalty for taking an additional energy store compounded the setback, relegating him to the back row of the grid.
“Qualifying makes our life very difficult, that’s for sure,” Leclerc admitted. “But with the 10-place grid penalty, it was always going to be difficult. Still, I believe in miracles.”
Leclerc’s unwavering belief comes despite McLaren locking out the front row with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and teammate Carlos Sainz starting third. Ferrari’s slim championship hopes rest on a “special” performance from Leclerc and a near-perfect race from Sainz.
Turning Adversity into Motivation
Leclerc was candid about his mistakes, particularly the Turn 1 error that led to his Q2 exit. “It’s very difficult to judge, but I was on the wrong side of things in Q2, so I can only blame myself,” he said. Despite the setback, the Ferrari star remains focused on delivering an exceptional race.
“I see an opportunity to do something very special and I’ll do my best to do it. I’ll believe in it until the very last lap. Anything can happen,” Leclerc declared.
Ferrari’s uphill battle
To clinch the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari must not only dominate the race but hope McLaren falters. With McLaren’s Norris and Piastri starting from the front and showing superior pace all weekend, Ferrari’s chances appear slim.
Leclerc admitted, “We’re not making our life any easier, but it motivates me to do something extraordinary tomorrow. My goal remains the same: to win the Constructors’ Championship, and I still believe in it.”
While conceding that McLaren seemed “too strong” to beat in qualifying, Leclerc noted Ferrari’s strengths in race conditions, particularly improved tyre degradation. “We’ve changed the car quite a bit since FP3. I think we went in the right direction. Our race pace was OK, and if anything, our tyre degradation is better than others.”
The Final Push
Ferrari needs an extraordinary Sunday to keep their championship dream alive. Leclerc, starting from 19th, faces a monumental task to climb through the field, while Sainz must contend with McLaren’s dominant duo from third. Even if Ferrari delivers a miracle performance, the team’s fate is partially out of their hands.
Despite the odds, Leclerc’s faith remains unshaken. “I’ll believe in it until the last lap,” he said. For Ferrari fans, it’s the ultimate test of hope, grit, and resilience as the curtain falls on the 2024 Formula 1 season.