Ferrari concluded the closing 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 closing nook, might have positioned himself between the 2 MCL38s of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, complicating their race greater than it would now with the present grid.
Charles Leclerc, nevertheless, had his greatest 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 battle for the Constructors’ Championship—absent from Maranello since 2008—virtually inconceivable.
After the official periods at Yas Marina, Ferrari’s group 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 distinct temper on the 2 sides of the storage. Carlos had a superb qualifying session, preventing for first place on the finish of Q3 and lacking the entrance row attributable to a really small mistake on the final nook. However it doesn’t matter; we’ll battle. Beginning second or third doesn’t change a lot—we’ll battle till the final nook. With Leclerc, the scenario is completely 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 modify Charles Leclerc’s engine earlier than the race?
“Truthfully, I don’t suppose there’s a major 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 manner we have now to date. However we received’t do something drastically completely different simply because it’s the final race of the season. Possibly with Charles, we’ll take into account a distinct technique to keep away from getting caught within the midfield visitors.”
Does beginning third as a substitute of second change a lot?
“Possibly there’s a slight distinction in grip on the correct facet in comparison with the left facet of the grid. However as I mentioned, there’s not an enormous distinction between the 2 positions. What’s vital is the place we’re after the primary nook and the top of the primary lap.”
Tomorrow, attaining your aim will probably be very troublesome…
“Even earlier than coming to Abu Dhabi, it was already very troublesome on paper. After the penalty, it’s grow to be extraordinarily troublesome. Nonetheless, it’s not inconceivable as a result of we will’t predict what is going to occur. We’ll battle 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 crucial 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 would possibly occur with McLaren. To date, they haven’t had any retirements or incidents. You possibly can by no means know. We’d like to ensure we rating sufficient factors to grow to be champions, after which we’ll see.”
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