Ferrari looks almost too bad to be true: has Leclerc’s penalty already decided the championship? But the Monegasque
A 10-place grid penalty for Charles Leclerc (not the only driver penalized this weekend) and a McLaren currently looking unbeatable in both qualifying and race pace: a tough weekend was expected for Ferrari, but not as challenging as what unfolded today in Abu Dhabi. The fight for the Constructors’ Championship now feels like an almost impossible task.
Yet, in such an unpredictable 2024 season, nothing can be taken for granted. Tomorrow’s FP3 session will be critical to refining the SF-24, which has struggled so far. Still, there’s a glimmer of hope: Nico Hulkenberg of Haas—Ferrari’s closest ally in terms of pace—secured an incredible third place in FP2 and clocked the fastest race pace.
The challenge ahead is monumental, the summit seemingly unreachable. But if this season has taught us anything, it’s that Formula 1 can flip the script when you least expect it, delivering drama and surprises. Servirà reagire, certo: sarà difficile, ora ancor di più, ma non impossibile.
Penalties for Abu Dhabi: Leclerc isn’t the only one dropping back
As mentioned, it’s not just Leclerc: Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto will also face a 5-place grid penalty.
Here’s how Williams wrote it: “Alex and Franco will each take a 5-place grid penalty in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to the use of additional RNC gearbox components. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the incidents that occurred during last week’s Grand Prix, which were beyond Alex and Franco’s control, but we will give it our all to finish the season on a strong note.”
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP