Ferrari concluded the last qualifying session of the 2024 System 1 season for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by securing third place with Carlos Sainz and final place with the penalized Charles Leclerc.
The Spaniard was the one one to problem the 2 McLarens and, if not for a mistake on the last nook, might have positioned himself between the 2 MCL38s of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, complicating their race greater than it’d now with the present grid.
Charles Leclerc, nevertheless, had his finest Q2 lap time deleted and was eradicated, ending in 14th place. A ten-place grid penalty for introducing his third battery pack of the season did the remaining: tomorrow, the Monegasque will begin final, making a comeback to struggle for the Constructors’ Championship—absent from Maranello since 2008—nearly unimaginable.
After the official classes at Yas Marina, Ferrari’s workforce principal Frédéric Vasseur spoke to *Sky Sport Italia*, discussing the result of the ultimate qualifying session of the yr and outlining Ferrari’s strategy for tomorrow’s race.
How is the ambiance within the Ferrari storage after qualifying at Yas Marina?
“There’s a unique temper on the 2 sides of the storage. Carlos had a wonderful qualifying session, combating for first place on the finish of Q3 and lacking the entrance row as a result of a really small mistake on the final nook. But it surely doesn’t matter; we’ll struggle. Beginning second or third doesn’t change a lot—we’ll struggle till the final nook. With Leclerc, the state of affairs is totally different. Earlier than the session, we knew the best-case situation was ranging from eleventh, however then he went barely vast at Flip 1 in Q2, and that’s the way it went.”
Will you alter Charles Leclerc’s engine earlier than the race?
“Truthfully, I don’t assume there’s a big benefit in altering the engine—a minimum of, not sufficient to justify placing in a brand new one.”
You’ll be hoping for a chaotic race, whereas McLaren will need a simple one…
“Sure, that’s true. We’ll race in opposition to McLaren with Carlos the identical method we have now to this point. However we received’t do something drastically totally different simply because it’s the final race of the season. Perhaps with Charles, we’ll contemplate a unique technique to keep away from getting caught within the midfield site visitors.”
Does beginning third as an alternative of second change a lot?
“Perhaps there’s a slight distinction in grip on the proper facet in comparison with the left facet of the grid. However as I mentioned, there’s not a giant distinction between the 2 positions. What’s vital is the place we’re after the primary nook and the tip of the primary lap.”
Tomorrow, reaching your purpose shall be very tough…
“Even earlier than coming to Abu Dhabi, it was already very tough on paper. After the penalty, it’s grow to be extraordinarily tough. Nonetheless, it’s not unimaginable as a result of we are able to’t predict what’s going to occur. We’ll struggle till the final nook of the final lap and haven’t any regrets.”
At this level, are you able to afford to take extra dangers?
“Sure and no, as a result of a very powerful factor continues to be to attain sufficient factors to grow to be champions. We will’t take too many dangers as a result of we by no means know what may occur with McLaren. To this point, they haven’t had any retirements or incidents. You possibly can by no means know. We want to ensure we rating sufficient factors to grow to be champions, after which we’ll see.”
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