P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc has admitted that his “hurt” at Ferrari missing out on the F1 title overshadowed his comeback drive to the podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Ferrari faced a daunting challenge in closing a 21-point gap to McLaren, worsened by Leclerc’s 10-place grid penalty for an energy store change. Leclerc’s setback continued with a Q2 elimination for a track limit violation, pushing him to the back row after the penalty. However, he impressively gained 11 positions on the first lap, marking his best start in F1. Despite the hope for a miraculous turnaround, Ferrari fell short as McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship by 14 points. Leclerc expressed disappointment in missing the opportunity, acknowledging McLaren’s superior performance and highlighting the difficulties faced during the weekend. He dismissed the notion that a higher qualifying position could have changed the outcome, emphasizing his satisfaction with the recovery made during the race weekend.
