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

McLaren breaks silence on shocking Barcelona F1 test delay: what’s behind the hold-up?
Motorsports

McLaren breaks silence on shocking Barcelona F1 test delay: what’s behind the hold-up?

McLaren's Bold Strategy: Delayed Barcelona F1 Test Sparks Controversy! In a dramatic twist at the Barcelona pre-season F1 test, McLaren...

by James Taylor
January 27, 2026
Max Verstappen dominates Day 2 of Barcelona testing: Isack Hadjar’s crash sparks controversy
Motorsports

Max Verstappen dominates Day 2 of Barcelona testing: Isack Hadjar’s crash sparks controversy

Getty Images

by Carl Smith
January 27, 2026
Charles Leclerc sparks hope as Ferrari unveils SF-26 amid thrilling Barcelona F1 test challenges
Motorsports

Charles Leclerc sparks hope as Ferrari unveils SF-26 amid thrilling Barcelona F1 test challenges

Ferrari Roars into 2026 F1 Testing: Leclerc's Bold Insights from Barcelona In a thrilling start to the 2026 Formula 1...

by Simon Monroy
January 27, 2026
Isack Hadjar’s shocking crash ends Barcelona shakedown abruptly: Red Bull’s testing turmoil revealed
Motorsports

Isack Hadjar’s shocking crash ends Barcelona shakedown abruptly: Red Bull’s testing turmoil revealed

SHOCKING CRASH: Isack Hadjar's Barcelona Testing Ends in Disaster! In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Isack Hadjar's promising run at...

by Carl Harrison
January 27, 2026

Recent News

McLaren breaks silence on shocking Barcelona F1 test delay: what’s behind the hold-up?

McLaren breaks silence on shocking Barcelona F1 test delay: what’s behind the hold-up?

January 27, 2026
Max Verstappen dominates Day 2 of Barcelona testing: Isack Hadjar’s crash sparks controversy

Max Verstappen dominates Day 2 of Barcelona testing: Isack Hadjar’s crash sparks controversy

January 27, 2026
Charles Leclerc sparks hope as Ferrari unveils SF-26 amid thrilling Barcelona F1 test challenges

Charles Leclerc sparks hope as Ferrari unveils SF-26 amid thrilling Barcelona F1 test challenges

January 27, 2026
Isack Hadjar’s shocking crash ends Barcelona shakedown abruptly: Red Bull’s testing turmoil revealed

Isack Hadjar’s shocking crash ends Barcelona shakedown abruptly: Red Bull’s testing turmoil revealed

January 27, 2026

Newsletter

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

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

MSports Play Icon
MSports Play
The New streaming service
Download
×
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.