Charles Leclerc is visibly upset about losing the constructors’ title in Abu Dhabi. The Monegasque finished third, and together with teammate Carlos Sainz in P2, they just couldn’t score enough points to beat McLaren. Leclerc is particularly disappointed with the loss, as he wanted to end his time with Sainz at Ferrari on a high note.
The Monegasque started the race in Abu Dhabi in nineteenth place, but managed to make up eleven places in the first lap alone. Leclerc continued his overtaking race thereafter, even finishing on the podium. However, Leclerc’s third place was not enough, as McLaren took the constructors’ title thanks to Norris’s victory.
“I knew I had to be very aggressive,” the Monegasque reflects on his overtaking race after the Grand Prix. “I had to take as much risk as possible in the first lap to make up as many places as possible. I was able to do this, but unfortunately we started too far back to do much better than what we did today. Of course, it hurts,” Leclerc refers to the loss of the title to McLaren.
“If you look at the first part of the year, we were not in the fight for the constructors at all,” says the Ferrari driver. “And the second part of the year was very good. The team, but also Carlos and I did a good job. We finished very strong, and hopefully we will start next year just as strong.”
Disappointment
The conversation then briefly turns to next year, and Leclerc’s new teammate Lewis Hamilton. “Lewis has achieved so much in the sport, and it will certainly be motivating. For now, we are mainly thinking about the past year, and the years I have had with Carlos. We have a good relationship, and I had hoped we could end with a constructors’ title. But it was not enough. That’s disappointing.” Leclerc also finishes P3 in the drivers’ championship, behind Verstappen and Norris.
