Charles Leclerc has put Ferrari in a strong position after the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This has given Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes a huge task for the race as they prepare to defend P2 in the WCC.
Despite having good times during the free practice sessions before the Abu Dhabi GP, Charles Leclerc was not having a good qualifying session. He was not able to beat Max Verstappen and the McLarens. However, during the final part of qualifying, Charles brought together a lap that placed him in 2nd position for the race. While Lando Norris also had a promising lap which could have been pole position, he faced some oversteer in the last corner and was not able to improve on his time.
The front-row start for Charles Leclerc came right on time as they prepared to take 2nd place from Mercedes in the last race of the season. Off the start, Leclerc will be hoping to take the challenge to Max Verstappen. In the last few races, Charles and Ferrari have really bounced back. Charles Leclerc will be starting on the first row for the 5th time in a row.
“Being on the front row was definitely not something on my cards going into quali!” 😯
Charles Leclerc on his surprise P2 ⬇ pic.twitter.com/0gE0c4b84O
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 25, 2023
When the second half of the season started, it was clear that Mercedes and McLaren were the only ones close to the pace of Red Bull. However, since Brazil, Ferrari has been putting in some impressive performances. This has put Mercedes on the back foot in the last couple of races.
For the Abu Dhabi GP, Lewis Hamilton only managed to qualify 11th while his teammate will start 4th. Carlos Sainz had a poor qualifying which will see him start 16th on the grid. However, judging by the pace of the Ferrari, he should be able to get past Lewis Hamilton within no time. Based on the starting positions, Ferrari looks good to take 2nd place in the Championship.
Lewis Hamilton out in Q2 for the second time in a row
Lewis Hamilton has not been having a good time in the W14 this season. He was hoping to win a race this season. However, the car has not had the pace to challenge Max Verstappen and Red Bull. While the 7-time Champion did come close to winning a race in Austin, slow pit stops and unclear strategies prevented him from winning the race.
It is fair to say that Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the Mercedes team cannot wait to get rid of the W14 and welcome the W15. Hamilton has been knocked out in Q2 twice in a row now. The Las Vegas GP was also a disappointing one for Lewis and Mercedes.
“I’ve been off all weekend” 😔
Lewis Hamilton on his Q2 exit and struggles with the W14 🆕 pic.twitter.com/Z44Ab9BNkM
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) November 25, 2023
Since losing the Championship in 2021, Mercedes has been itching to get back to winning. Prior to 2021, the German Manufacturers were winning every single Championship since 2014. Max Verstappen and Red Bull ended their streak in 2021 and 2022.
It has been reported that Mercedes started work on their 2024 car months ago. They knew early on that the W14 was not capable of winning the Championship. Hence the team shifted focus to the W15 hoping to challenge Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
However, judging by the current performances, Ferrari and McLaren seem to have a better chance of challenging Red Bull in 2024. Lando Norris and the Ferrari drivers have been consistently challenging for the podium finishes.