Charles Leclerc views his again row beginning place as a consequence of a grid penalty and a observe limits violation as a motivating issue for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ferrari needed to give Leclerc a brand new vitality retailer after Friday, leading to a 10-place grid penalty that ensured the perfect beginning place he may safe was eleventh on the grid. Leclerc appeared aggressive in qualifying however then had his finest Q2 lap deleted for exceeding observe limits, leading to him dropping out early and beginning on the again row.
“[I feel] not so good after a qualifying like that,” Leclerc stated. “We had been slightly bit higher. It’s true that I don’t suppose we might have managed to beat the McLarens — they appeared too robust — however we may have been fourth. It was both P15 or P20 and P15 is healthier than P20. But when I get my lap time deleted it means we begin from P20.
“We don’t make our life any simpler. Nonetheless, it motivates me to do one thing very particular tomorrow. My objective stays the identical: it’s to win the constructors’ championship. And I nonetheless imagine in it as a lot as I did yesterday, regardless that on paper clearly it’s going to be onerous.”
Admitting the observe limits violation was merely his personal mistake, Leclerc says he’s nonetheless believing Ferrari can overturn a 21-point deficit towards McLaren to win the constructors’ title, regardless of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locking out the entrance row.
“It’s very tough [to judge Turn 1] — it’s clearly very tough,” he stated. “Nevertheless it’s very tough for everyone and I used to be on the improper aspect of issues in Q2 so I can solely blame myself.
“The race tempo was OK, however McLaren appeared to be so much stronger. We’ve modified the automobile fairly a bit since FP3. I feel we went in the appropriate route. If something our tire degradation is healthier than others, so I might anticipate to be in a greater place.
“I imagine in miracles. It makes our life very tough, that’s for positive. However with the 10-place grid penalty it was all the time going to be tough. However I see a possibility to do one thing very particular and I’ll do my finest to do it. I’ll imagine in it till the final lap. Something can occur.”
