Ferrari has began the Abu Dhabi weekend, the ultimate Grand Prix of the 2024 Components 1 season, in a decidedly tough manner.
Within the first follow session, the crew needed to change the battery pack on Charles Leclerc’s SF-24, putting in the third unit of the season. This implies just one factor: a grid penalty. Charles must drop 10 locations on the grid, relying on tomorrow afternoon’s qualifying end result.
It is a important blow for Ferrari, which hoped—and nonetheless hopes, regardless of the slim possibilities of success—to win the Constructors’ Championship, a title that has eluded them since 2008.
However Charles Leclerc’s troubled weekend had already begun final evening as a consequence of meals poisoning, which stored him awake all evening.
“The penalty makes our weekend tougher. Sadly, it began final evening after I had meals poisoning and couldn’t sleep in any respect. I’m so drained; I simply need to sleep now. It hasn’t been simple, and this morning I didn’t really feel like driving, however after all, the large motivation of the day was doing FP1 with my brother.” -he identified on the finish of the second free follow session.
“It was a dream come true at this time for each of us and for our total household, who traveled to Monaco to see it. It was a really emotional second, and I needed to put my helmet on early as a result of I used to be overwhelmed, and that’s when issues began to go fallacious, sadly. As quickly as we began the automotive, we noticed there was a problem with the vitality retailer. Quite a lot of ideas went by means of my thoughts…”
Luckily for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc already appears to be feeling higher. This could enable him to be near full health tomorrow for the third follow session and, most significantly, qualifying at Yas Marina.
“The very first thing that got here to thoughts was: ‘I’ll drive this FP1 with my brother, which is a novel alternative,’ and clearly additionally the championship, which makes our weekend a lot more durable, however this doesn’t demotivate me in any respect. I already really feel a bit higher tonight. I’ll get evening’s sleep and are available again tomorrow absolutely recharged—no pun supposed! However sure, hopefully, we’ll have an amazing day tomorrow after which an amazing restoration on Sunday.”
Right now’s on-track efficiency favored their direct rivals for the title, McLaren. The MCL38s of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri set the tempo each on single laps and race stints. Ferrari’s hopes of clinching the title are slim, however inside the crew, the main focus stays on giving their all. What occurs might be assessed on the finish of the season.
“McLaren appears to be quicker, sadly. For now, they’ve the higher hand, however we all know issues can change in a short time in both course, and we now have to remain alert. It received’t be over till the top, as we’ve seen at this time with our difficulty, however I don’t want issues on anybody else. We’ll simply deal with ourselves and attempt to make a rare comeback.”
For Charles Leclerc, this weekend can even mark his final alongside Carlos Sainz as teammates earlier than the Spaniard strikes to Williams subsequent season.
“Sure. One other factor that provides to this emotionally turbulent weekend. After all, we need to end on a excessive word. This morning, we ended up watching collectively, and we had been each a bit unhappy about what occurred as a result of we clearly depend on one another to attempt to win this Constructors’ title. We actually need to end these 4 years collectively in one of the simplest ways doable.”
“However typically, issues occur which can be past our management, and that’s what occurred at this time. We’ve had a implausible relationship, 4 implausible years, and we’ll give it our all till the final lap to conclude these 4 years collectively in one of the simplest ways doable.”
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