Charles Leclerc admits that failing to safe the constructors’ title for Ferrari hurts.
After all, the Italian workforce did not make it simple for itself – it by no means has – as many, arguably, higher males than the Monegasque have found to their value.
Regardless of the assorted points over the course of the season, the Maranello outfit arrived in Abu Dhabi 21 factors adrift of McLaren. A tricky ask however not unattainable.
Nonetheless the Italian workforce was dealt an nearly deadly blow on the outset when Leclerc required a brand new vitality retailer which meant a ten-place grid drop.
Including to his and the workforce’s frustration, his greatest time in qualifying was deleted for exceeding monitor limits and in consequence he began the race from nineteenth.
Nonetheless, an excellent begin which noticed him make up 11 locations – whereas Oscar Piastri dropped to final following a conflict with Max Verstappen – supplied hope.
However it was to not be.
Leclerc adopted teammate Carlos Sainz dwelling for a Ferrari 2-3, as Lando Norris secured the title for the Woking outfit for the primary time since 1998.
“No, probably not,” replied the Monegasque, when requested if he was completely satisfied along with his efficiency, and notably that incredible begin. “I imply, I am after all actually completely satisfied in regards to the race. However the disappointment is lots greater.
“You do not win or lose a championship within the final race,” he added. “Clearly it is over the course of the season and after each single race, and McLaren has simply carried out a greater job than us. Congratulations to them. However it clearly hurts once you get to the final race. You realize there’s a chance.
“It was a really troublesome weekend,” he admitted, “clearly, already with the penalty on Friday. It was by no means going to be simple. However after such a superb first lap, the hopes had been excessive. And yeah, we simply got here in need of our dream, which was to win the constructors’. So it hurts.
“The primary a part of the season wasn’t simple,” he stated. “We had been positively not the quickest automotive. We had been really struggling for efficiency. The second a part of the season, we have carried out an unbelievable job, largely for enhancing the automotive by way of tempo.
“We have picked up numerous tempo. We had been lots nearer to the blokes in entrance, and truly on some races we had been in all probability the quickest automotive and that is due to the workforce in Maranello, due to Carlos, due to me and the workforce again on the monitor as properly to have carried out such an ideal job with the brand new upgrades.
“I believe the spotlight of this season has positively been the execution. To be preventing for the constructors’ on the finish of the yr till the final race, if you happen to have a look at the efficiency we have had within the first a part of the yr, that is the place I believe we have carried out a very good job. So on that, I am very proud.”
Take a look at our Sunday gallery from the Yas Marina right here.
