P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc admits he was concerned about being eliminated in Q1 before ending up with a “surprise” front row in
Charles Leclerc was surprised to secure a front row start for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, considering the struggles Ferrari faced throughout the weekend. Despite the “peaky” nature of their car, Leclerc managed to deliver an exceptional final sector, finishing just 0.139s behind polesitter Max Verstappen. The Ferrari driver was initially worried about even making it to Q3, but his performance on new tires exceeded expectations. Ferrari is currently only four points behind Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship, and Leclerc hopes that his teammate, Carlos Sainz, can make progress in the race to secure second place for the team. Leclerc’s main focus for the weekend is a strong showing in the Constructors’ Championship.
