P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc has conceded it would be a “surprise” should Ferrari gain points on McLaren this weekend in Qatar in the race to win the F1 Constructors’ title.
Ferrari narrowed the gap to McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship in Las Vegas, with Leclerc finishing fourth behind his teammate Carlos Sainz. However, their hopes of gaining more ground were dashed as their expected competitive edge did not materialize with the SF-24. Instead, Mercedes surprised with a dominant 1-2 finish at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit with George Russell leading the charge from pole position. Ferrari now trails McLaren by 24 points with only two races remaining, starting with the Qatar Grand Prix and culminating in Abu Dhabi. Leclerc acknowledged the need to close the gap in Qatar to have a shot at Abu Dhabi but expressed caution, expecting McLaren to be strong. Sainz echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, anticipating a tough challenge from McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull in Qatar and aiming to maximize their points haul.
