Charles Leclerc closed the Qatar GP with an unexpected result: a second place that surprised even the Monegasque driver. The Lusail track, notoriously unfavourable to Ferrari due to his technical characteristics, it seemed destined to penalize the Maranello team. However, thanks to a combination of strategy, resilience and favorable circumstances, Leclerc managed to overturn expectations, overtaking Oscar Piastri in the second half of the race.
A curious aspect emerged shortly before the race: Leclerc had to deal with an unusual setback, namely the breaking of his water straw, which could have compromised his comfort during the Grand Prix.
“I’m very happy. Honestly, I would have immediately signed a piece of paper telling me that we would have finished second on a track like this after a weekend like this, because the characteristics of our car don’t adapt very well to this track.”
Tyre management and the difficulties of the opponents
A key point of the race was tire management. From the early stages, both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had been instructed to conserve their tires. The decision was dictated by the awareness that the circuit would put a hard test on the Ferrari cars. Leclerc adopted a smart strategy, taking advantage of the difficulties encountered by his direct rivals.
Penalties such as the one handed out to Lando Norris and technical problems for George Russell helped pave the way for Leclerc's final result. But it was above all his ability to maintain a constant pace and capitalise on every opportunity that made the difference.
Constructors' title to be decided in Abu Dhabi
The fight for the constructors' title is still open and will be decided at the last race of the season, in Abu Dhabi. Despite the difficulties encountered during the weekend, Ferrari managed to reduce the gap to McLaren.
“We knew it was going to be a very difficult weekend compared to McLaren, but in the end we managed to take some points away from them. So the fight will go until the last race in Abu Dhabi next week.”
Looking ahead to the final challenge, the Ferrari driver admitted that the result is not a foregone conclusion:
“It’s hard to know how fast Ferrari will be. We’re all very close. It’s going to be very close, but it’s exciting. Twenty-one points is still a lot, but anything is possible and we’ll give it our all."
Now, with the season drawing to a close, the tension shifts to the Yas Marina circuit, where Ferrari's fate in the constructors' championship will be decided. The final chapter of the season promises to be a close battle, with thrills and spills right down to the last lap.
