Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc delivered a strong and consistent performance at the Qatar Grand Prix over the weekend, moving from fifth on the start grid to P2 to take his 12th podium finish of the season. Leclerc is now just eight points behind Lando Norris in the fight for second in the Drivers’ Championship.
Leclerc’s second-place finish in Qatar on 1st December ensures the fight for runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship remains alive heading into the final race of the season, scheduled for 8th December in Abu Dhabi. The Monegasque driver trails his rival for the position, McLaren’s Lando Norris, by only eight points after collecting 18 points at the Lusail International Circuit in Doha.
For much of the race, Norris was ahead of Leclerc, but a costly 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow under a yellow flag derailed his race. Norris finished in P10.
Leclerc, meanwhile, enjoyed a relatively calm race, avoiding much of the drama on the track. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, suffered a puncture from debris on Lap 35 – the same lap Norris incurred his penalty – but Leclerc capitalised on the safety car, pitting for fresh tyres and rejoining in third.
At that stage, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, already crowned 2024 Champion with his fourth consecutive title, led the race. Norris fell to last place on Lap 45 after serving his penalty in the pits, allowing Leclerc to move up to P2, where he remained for the rest of the race. Sainz ultimately finished sixth.
“I’m happy with how the race went today, having made up some points on McLaren,” Leclerc said post-race. “We had some luck on my side and a bit less on Carlos’ with the puncture. We may have been able to finish second and third without that, which is a shame for the team, but overall, it was positive to be this competitive here.”
The two Ferrari drivers collectively earned 26 points, bringing the team within 21 points of McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship. With just one race remaining, even a one-two finish in Abu Dhabi may not be enough for Ferrari to secure the title, but the team remains optimistic.
“Driving for such an iconic team as Ferrari, it would be amazing for us to finish the season by bringing the Constructors’ title back to Maranello,” added Leclerc. “It won’t be easy to score the points we need in a single weekend, but everything is still possible, and we will do absolutely everything to achieve it.”
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Photos source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre