With Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, towards the chances, Ferrari leaves spherical 23 of the 2024 Method 1 championship, the Qatar Grand Prix, with three factors gained over rivals McLaren throughout the penultimate weekend of the present racing marketing campaign. Between the occasions of the Dash Race and the chaotic Sunday race, the Maranello group now finds itself 21 factors behind the Woking group within the Constructors’ Championship standings. A constructive final result retains hope alive till the ultimate nook at Yas Marina. Many issues occurred in Losail, and the FIA was fully unable to handle the state of affairs.
Seemingly easy conditions turned extraordinarily sophisticated because of the sluggish execution by the brand new race director, Rui Marques, who left a mirror on the straight with out deploying the Digital Security Automotive to take away it, which not directly triggered the punctures of Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz. He additionally issued a slightly heavy penalty to Lando Norris, successfully excluding him from the race, even though the British driver in the end completed tenth with the extra level for the quickest lap and from the possibility to battle for victory, as he was within the thick of the battle with Max Verstappen.
Ferrari actually took benefit of this case: Charles Leclerc completed second forward of Oscar Piastri, whereas Carlos Sainz managed to get well after his puncture, securing at the least sixth place. The Spaniard might have actually achieved a greater consequence, maybe passing Pierre Gasly within the last laps, which might have given the Scuderia two crucial further factors. Nonetheless, regardless of all the things, the Spanish driver managed to convey a strong contribution to Ferrari’s Constructors’ Championship tally.
The Losail race was received by a supercharged Max Verstappen, who, with a automobile reworked in comparison with the Dash phase of the weekend, managed to dominate everybody along with his RB20. It was already predicted earlier than the weekend that the Dutchman, removed from happy along with his F1 Drivers’ Championship victory, would give it his all. A poor efficiency got here from Mercedes, which, between Lewis Hamilton’s difficulty and a really sluggish cease for George Russell, misplaced all probabilities of returning to the rostrum. Lastly, McLaren, the heavy favourite earlier than the Qatar Grand Prix, has loads to remorse.
Ferrari can smile, as can Charles Leclerc, who’s often not content material with a second place. But there was a type of consciousness within the Maranello storage earlier than the Qatar weekend, and it appeared there was a robust chance that the championship could be sealed in McLaren’s favor one race early, given the competitiveness of the MCL38 on this observe and the problems suffered by the SF-24, partly associated to its lack of rotation. Thankfully, this was not the case, and all the things is now postponed to Abu Dhabi.
Charles Leclerc said that the race was maybe probably the most bodily demanding F1 occasion of the yr. He famous that whereas there was no difficulty with administration or technique, because the group was flawless with the tires, the principle drawback was their lack of tempo. The Monegasque driver defined that in such conditions, it was essential to profit from each obtainable useful resource, which they efficiently did. He expressed satisfaction with the end result, acknowledging that though he’s often not content material with a second-place end, on this event, they managed to beat McLaren and rating extra factors than anticipated. He added that the Maranello group had initially anticipated to attain fewer factors than their rivals. Nonetheless, he regretted the circumstances for Carlos Sainz, suggesting that they may have achieved a second and third-place end.
The Monegasque’s last remark displays his dedication to imagine till the tip, past what the observe may supply. The Ferrari driver doesn’t dwell on the structure or talk about the inherent traits of his automobile when it comes to how they could adapt to the Abu Dhabi circuit. He merely focuses on attaining the very best consequence. Charles Leclerc remarked {that a} one-two end in Abu Dhabi could be obligatory for Ferrari to safe the Constructors’ Championship. He mirrored on his previous expertise, noting that he had by no means received in Monaco till it will definitely occurred, expressing hope {that a} comparable final result might happen once more. Nonetheless, it should be mentioned {that a} one-two end is not going to be sufficient if the 2 McLarens end third and fourth.
Misfortune struck Carlos Sainz in the Qatar F1 Grand Prix, there isn’t a different solution to put it. This, regardless of his tempo not being notably outstanding. The Spaniard, who had a less-than-stellar first a part of the race—partly on account of tire administration imposed by the Maranello group, which was a clearly obligatory alternative), ran over particles from Alex Albon’s mirror, struggling a puncture and finishing a whole lap on three wheels. An actual disgrace, as a result of, as Charles Leclerc talked about, there was a real alternative to attain much more factors towards McLaren.
Carlos Sainz expressed his dissatisfaction with how the day unfolded, explaining that he needed to full a whole lap with a puncture, which value him important time. He talked about that the pit cease was sluggish and that the following Security Automotive deployment benefited the drivers forward. Whereas pissed off by the end result, he acknowledged that such conditions are a part of racing. Looking forward to Abu Dhabi, Carlos Sainz emphasised that the title was nonetheless inside attain and that they would wish an distinctive weekend, scoring many factors whereas limiting McLaren’s tally. The Spaniard assured that the Maranello group would give their all, believing they have been in a robust place to succeed.
Now Ferrari has no alternative however to goal for the very best consequence on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, particularly to do all the things attainable to safe first and second place, after which hope that one thing occurs to McLaren. As talked about, with a Ferrari one-two end and the 2 papaya automobiles in third and fourth, the factors scored wouldn’t be ample. Due to this fact, consideration additionally shifts to others, particularly Max Verstappen and the 2 Mercedes automobiles of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, whereas excluding Sergio Perez altogether, who will play the position of the arbiters of this 2024 Method 1 Constructors’ Championship. It stays to be seen in whose favor they’ll act.
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