Ferrari's Charles Leclerc expressed surprise at securing second place in the Qatar Grand Prix, particularly given the track characteristics that typically don't favor their car's strengths.

The race saw Max Verstappen lead, with Lando Norris initially challenging before receiving a penalty. Leclerc capitalized on this opportunity to secure second place ahead of Oscar Piastri, helping Ferrari narrow the constructors' championship gap to McLaren to just 21 points.

"I would have signed straight away for a second-place finish on this track," Leclerc admitted, acknowledging that Qatar's circuit layout typically doesn't suit Ferrari's car characteristics. The team's strategy of focusing solely on maximizing their own performance, rather than comparing themselves to competitors, proved successful.

The unexpected result came despite Ferrari anticipating a challenging weekend against McLaren. While Carlos Sainz faced unfortunate circumstances with a puncture, the team managed to exceed expectations and gain valuable championship points.

Looking ahead, Leclerc emphasized the need to improve performance on similar tracks while maintaining satisfaction with the team's current execution. The constructors' championship battle will continue until the final race in Abu Dhabi, with Ferrari showing renewed competitiveness despite track-specific challenges.

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