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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
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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.

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