Leclerc thinks Ferrari can win title after disaster: 'Believe in miracles'
F1 News
Charles Leclerc still believes that there is an opportunity for Ferrari to win the constructors championship after a poor qualifying day in Abu Dhabi. The season finale hasn't been going as planned for the Italian team, who sit 21 points behind McLaren in the table. The Monegasque will start tomorrow's race from last place after exceeding track limits in Q2. When his 10-place grid penalty is added, it drops him to dead last. Still, Leclerc believes Ferrari are in the fight for their first constructors title since 2008.
Charles Leclerc was eliminated in Q2 after he had his fastest lap deleted due to a track limit infringement at turn one. Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri also had laps eliminated throughout qualifying, but their laps were actually reinstated after their specific incidents were analysed by the stewards. Leclerc's was just over the limit, and due to his 10-second time penalty, he'll be starting the race from the back of the grid.
"Obviously, I don't feel good after qualifying like that. We were a little bit better, indeed, I don't think I would have managed to beat the McLarens. They still were too strong but we could have been fourth. So it was either P15 or P20 and P15 is better than P20. Obviously with my lap time deleted it makes us start from P20, so we are not making our life any easier. However, it motivates me to do something very special tomorrow and to-- my goal remains the same. It's to win the Constructors' Championship and I still believe in it as much as I did yesterday. Even though on paper obviously it's going to be a lot more difficult," he told GPblog and others.
Leclerc believes in a 'championship miracle'
With Christmas on the horizon, Charles Leclerc is hoping that it comes early for him and Ferrrai. Despite the tight session, he will fight right up until the end, as he explained in the paddock. "I believe in miracles. Sometimes it's... Again, it makes our life very difficult, that's for sure. But with the 10 grid places penalty, it was always going to be difficult. But I see an opportunity to do something very special. And I'll do my best to do it. And I think I'll believe in it until the very last lap, everything can happen," Leclerc explained. "To be honest, there haven't been many positives since FP1. In quali though, the car felt a little bit better, so that gives me hope for tomorrow."
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