Leclerc dispirited despite sensational drive with Ferrari

Regardless of finishing a sensational comeback from the again of the grid to complete on the rostrum, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc admitted that the “disappointment was greater than the satisfaction” after the Maranello-based outfit misplaced out to McLaren within the battle for the constructors’ title.

His team-mate Charles Leclerc endured technical difficulties on Friday as Ferrari was compelled to alter the battery in his SF-24. The penalty and a deleted lap time in qualifying meant that the Ferrari driver began from P19 on the grid.

Whereas overtaking could be fairly troublesome on the Yas Marina Cirucit, particularly when drivers type DRS trains, Leclerc had a sensational begin to transfer as much as P8 by the tip of the opening lap. The Monegasque then moved additional up the sphere, and a barely earlier pit cease meant that he discovered himself up in P3 in any case the highest runners accomplished their necessary tyre change.

Requested about whether or not he was happy with the sensible restoration drive on the Yas Marina Circuit, Leclerc admitted that the frustration brought on by dropping the groups’ title was greater than the satisfaction after his shock end result.

“No, not likely. I imply, once more, I am, after all, actually completely happy in regards to the race. However the disappointment is lots greater. You do not win or lose a chairmanship within the final race.

“However clearly, it is over the course of the season and after each single race. And McLaren has simply finished a greater job than us. And congratulations to them. Nevertheless it clearly hurts once you get to the final race. You already know there’s a possibility. It was a really troublesome weekend, clearly, already with the penalty on Friday.

“It was by no means going to be straightforward. However after such first lap, the hopes have been excessive. And yeah, we simply got here in need of our dream, which was to win the Constructors’. So it hurts.”

Pushed on to touch upon the season from Ferrari’s perspective, Leclerc stated that whereas the Scuderia did “an unbelievable job” within the second a part of the yr, the problems from the primary half of the season proved too vital to stability out ultimately.

“I am very completely happy as a result of I feel the primary a part of the season wasn’t straightforward. We have been positively not the quickest automotive. We have been truly struggling for efficiency. The second a part of the season, we have finished an unbelievable job, principally for bettering the automotive by way of tempo.

“We have picked up numerous tempo. We have been lots nearer to the fellows in entrance, and really on some races we have been in all probability the quickest automotive and that is because of the staff in Maranello, because of Carlos, because of me and the staff again on the monitor as effectively to have finished such a fantastic job with the brand new upgrades.

“However I feel the spotlight of this season has positively been the execution. As a result of to be preventing for the Constructors’ on the finish of the yr till the final race, should you take a look at the efficiency we have had within the first a part of the yr, And that is the place I feel we have finished a very good job. So on that, I am very proud,” concluded Leclerc.

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