Ferrari’s bid for the Constructors’ Championship ended in disappointment at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivering strong performances but falling 14 points short of overtaking McLaren in the standings.
Heading into the season finale, Ferrari trailed McLaren by 21 points. A front-row lockout by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri compounded Ferrari’s challenge, especially with Leclerc starting from 19th following a 10-place grid penalty. Despite the odds, Leclerc charged through the field, climbing to eighth by the end of the opening lap and finishing fifth. Meanwhile, Sainz secured second place behind race winner Norris, earning Ferrari a total of 33 points for the day to McLaren’s 26.
Reflecting on the race, Leclerc lamented the uphill battle caused by his starting position. “I knew I had to take all the risks on Lap 1 to gain as many places as possible. That was achieved, but starting so far back, we couldn’t do better than what we managed today,” he said. “It hurts. We gave it our all and came up just short of our goal.”
The Abu Dhabi race marked the end of Leclerc and Sainz’s partnership, with the Spaniard set to join Williams next season. The duo’s four-year collaboration yielded a successful 2024 campaign, including five race wins and 652 points. “We’ve had an amazing relationship, pushing each other to the limit,” Leclerc said. “I wish we could have ended our time together with the constructors’ title, but we both gave it everything.”
Sainz echoed the bittersweet sentiment, noting the team’s effort in a competitive year. “P2 was the maximum we could achieve today, given McLaren’s pace. Congratulations to them – they’ve been exceptional in the latter part of the season,” Sainz said. “From our side, we can be proud of the championship we put together. It’s been a tough but rewarding year, and hopefully, we’ll be back in the title fight soon.”
The 58-lap race also saw drama on track, with Piastri falling to 10th after clashing with Max Verstappen, enabling Sainz to capitalise on the chaos. However, Norris’s control at the front ensured McLaren’s grip on the title.
Ferrari now looks ahead to the 2025 season, in which Lewis Hamilton will race alongside Leclerc in red.
