The 2024 F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi left Charles Leclerc disappointed after Ferrari narrowly missed out on the constructors’ title. Despite a double podium for Ferrari, McLaren clinched the championship, leaving Leclerc to ponder what could have been.
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A Hard-Fought Battle Against the Odds
Ferrari entered the final race trailing McLaren by 21 points. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locked out the front row, putting Ferrari at an early disadvantage. To make matters worse, Leclerc was knocked out in Q2 and handed a 10-place grid penalty, starting from P19.
Unfazed, Leclerc fought back brilliantly, climbing to P8 by the end of the opening lap. However, he admitted,
“We were just starting too far back to do anything better than what we’ve done today. I think we’ve done the maximum.”
Carlos Sainz, finishing P2, contributed to Ferrari’s impressive haul of 33 points compared to McLaren’s 26. But it wasn’t enough. Ferrari fell 14 points short of the constructors’ championship.
Leclerc Reflects on the Painful Finale
Leclerc’s frustration was palpable:
“It hurts obviously… We still gave it all and just came short of our goal, which is a shame.”
Despite the disappointment, he praised his partnership with Sainz, who is moving to Williams next year:
“We’ve had an amazing relationship… I really hoped that we could finish these four years together with a constructors’ title.”
Looking ahead, the Monegasque driver is determined to reset:
“The disappointment is here, and I will have four/five days to reset and start thinking about next year.”
Sainz’s Bittersweet Farewell
Sainz echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, calling his P2 finish “bittersweet.” Despite a strong start, he admitted that McLaren’s pace proved unbeatable:
“They just got a bit out of reach. Congratulations… They’ve been rock solid in the last two-thirds of the championship.”
Ferrari ends the season with 652 points and five race wins. While the disappointment lingers, the team remains proud of their effort, with hopes of bouncing back stronger in 2025.
Conclusion
Charles Leclerc disappointed but undeterred, vows to regroup as Ferrari shifts focus to the upcoming season. This near-miss might just add fuel to their hunger for the title in 2025.
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Charles Leclerc Disappointed – Featured Image Courtesy of Scuderia Ferrari