Ferrari has began the Abu Dhabi weekend, the ultimate Grand Prix of the 2024 Method 1 season, in a decidedly tough method.
Within the first follow session, the staff needed to exchange 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 should drop 10 locations on the grid, relying on tomorrow afternoon’s qualifying outcome.
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 night time as a consequence of meals poisoning, which stored him awake all night time.
“The penalty makes our weekend harder. Sadly, it began final night time after I had meals poisoning and couldn’t sleep in any respect. I’m so drained; I simply wish to sleep now. It hasn’t been simple, and this morning I didn’t really feel like driving, however in fact, the massive 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 right now for each of us and for our whole 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 flawed, sadly. As quickly as we began the automotive, we noticed there was a problem with the vitality retailer. A number of ideas went by means of my thoughts…”
Thankfully for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc already appears to be feeling higher. This could permit 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 singular alternative,’ and clearly additionally the championship, which makes our weekend a lot tougher, however this doesn’t demotivate me in any respect. I already really feel a bit higher tonight. I’ll get an excellent night time’s sleep and are available again tomorrow absolutely recharged—no pun meant! However sure, hopefully, we’ll have an awesome day tomorrow after which an awesome 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 staff, the main target stays on giving their all. What occurs will likely be assessed on the finish of the season.
“McLaren appears to be sooner, sadly. For now, they’ve the higher hand, however we all know issues can change in a short time in both course, and now we have to remain alert. It gained’t be over till the top, as we’ve seen right now with our problem, however I don’t want issues on anybody else. We’ll simply give attention to ourselves and attempt to make a unprecedented 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 wish to end on a excessive be aware. 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 wish to end these 4 years collectively in the easiest way attainable.”
“However typically, issues occur which might be past our management, and that’s what occurred right now. We’ve had a unbelievable relationship, 4 unbelievable years, and we’ll give it our all till the final lap to conclude these 4 years collectively in the easiest way attainable.”
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