Ferrari concluded the last qualifying session of the 2024 Formulation 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, nonetheless, 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 remainder: tomorrow, the Monegasque will begin final, making a comeback to struggle for the Constructors’ Championship—absent from Maranello since 2008—nearly not possible.
After the official classes at Yas Marina, Ferrari’s staff principal Frédéric Vasseur spoke to *Sky Sport Italia*, discussing the result of the ultimate qualifying session of the 12 months and outlining Ferrari’s method for tomorrow’s race.
How is the ambiance within the Ferrari storage after qualifying at Yas Marina?
“There’s a special temper on the 2 sides of the storage. Carlos had a wonderful qualifying session, preventing for first place on the finish of Q3 and lacking the entrance row because 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 scenario is totally different. Earlier than the session, we knew the best-case situation was ranging from eleventh, however then he went barely extensive 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 assume there’s a big benefit in altering the engine—at the least, not sufficient to justify placing in a brand new one.”
You’ll be hoping for a chaotic race, whereas McLaren will desire a easy one…
“Sure, that’s true. We’ll race in opposition to McLaren with Carlos the identical approach we now have to this point. However we gained’t do something drastically totally different simply because it’s the final race of the season. Perhaps with Charles, we’ll think about a special technique to keep away from getting caught within the midfield site visitors.”
Does beginning third as a substitute of second change a lot?
“Perhaps there’s a slight distinction in grip on the suitable 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 essential is the place we’re after the primary nook and the tip of the primary lap.”
Tomorrow, reaching your aim can be very troublesome…
“Even earlier than coming to Abu Dhabi, it was already very troublesome on paper. After the penalty, it’s turn into extraordinarily troublesome. Nonetheless, it’s not not possible as a result of we will’t predict what is going to occur. We’ll struggle till the final nook of the final lap and don’t have 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 remains to be to attain sufficient factors to turn into champions. We are able to’t take too many dangers as a result of we by no means know what may occur with McLaren. To date, they haven’t had any retirements or incidents. You’ll be able to by no means know. We want to verify we rating sufficient factors to turn into champions, after which we’ll see.”
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