Ferrari concluded the ultimate qualifying session of the 2024 Components 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 ultimate nook, may 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, 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 remaining: 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 periods at Yas Marina, Ferrari’s staff principal Frédéric Vasseur spoke to *Sky Sport Italia*, discussing the end result of the ultimate qualifying session of the 12 months 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 superb qualifying session, combating for first place on the finish of Q3 and lacking the entrance row resulting from a really small mistake on the final nook. However it 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 completely 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?
“Actually, I don’t suppose there’s a major benefit in altering the engine—no less than, 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 means we now have thus far. However we received’t do something drastically completely different simply because it’s the final race of the season. Possibly with Charles, we’ll think about 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?
“Possibly there’s a slight distinction in grip on the appropriate facet in comparison with the left facet of the grid. However as I stated, there’s not an enormous 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, attaining your purpose might be very tough…
“Even earlier than coming to Abu Dhabi, it was already very tough on paper. After the penalty, it’s change into extraordinarily tough. 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 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 change 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. Up to now, they haven’t had any retirements or incidents. You may by no means know. We’d like to ensure we rating sufficient factors to change into champions, after which we’ll see.”
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