Leclerc on Ferrari's title chances: “I believe in…

Charles Leclerc is not giving up on winning the constructors’ championship with Ferrari, despite a poor qualifying session that leaves him at the back of the grid.

Ferrari is 21 points behind McLaren going into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi as the Scuderia aims for a first team title since 2008.

However, with McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri locking out the front row at the Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari’s dwindling chances were only further hit when Leclerc saw a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits, seeing him eliminated in Q2.

Having already taken a 10-place grid penalty for a new battery, Leclerc will fall to the back of the pack but, with team-mate Carlos Sainz at least up in third, the Monegasque is keeping the faith.

“I believe in miracles. Sometimes again, it makes our life very difficult, that's for sure,” he said.

“With the 10-place grid penalty, it was always going to be difficult, but I see an opportunity to do something very special, and I'll do my best to do it. And I'll believe in it until the very last lap – everything can happen.”

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24 (Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images)

Amongst a poor weekend, Leclerc did go fastest in first practice, a session in which he drove alongside younger brother Arthur.

“The race pace was okay, but McLaren seemed to be a lot stronger,” he added.

“But again, we've changed quite a bit the car since FP3, so I think we went in the right direction. And if anything, our tyre degradation is better than others. So I would expect to be in a good position tomorrow.”

Sainz, who will race for the final time for Ferrari before he is replaced by Lewis Hamilton next season, will be hoping to push the McLaren duo from the very start on Sunday afternoon.

“I think we've made some good progress through the weekend. I think McLaren have showed all weekend that they're a bit of a step ahead compared to everyone, really,” he said.

Pole man Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, talk in Parc Ferme (Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images)

“We were just there behind, two or three tenths off. When it came to Q1 and Q2 it looked like we were getting a bit closer. I put together some really good laps in Q1 and Q2 but then in Q3, when they put everything together, they still had this little advantage over us.

“Anyway, still a race to do tomorrow, and we will give it everything to see if we can win that race and give ourselves the best chance.”

Sainz will depart for Williams next season, and he is keen to enjoy challenging at the top of the field before switching to a squad looking to progress up the grid in the coming years.

“Well, I'm going to give it everything. Already today, I was pushing and qualifying like never before, you know, because I wanted the pole position,” he said.

“I wanted to give myself a good chance for tomorrow, as it might be my last battle for a win or for a podium in a while, but at the same time, yeah, enjoying as much as possible this last weekend, pushing flat out and tomorrow nothing to lose, so we will go for it.

“If I'm very honest with you, I have not very been very emotional this weekend, just because the level of focus is so high and there's so much at stake with the opportunity to win and to fight for the constructors' that I don't really get any time to really think about it and let it sink in.”