Leclerc's Heroic Drive from P19 to P3 Not Enough for Ferrari's Title Hopes
Charles Leclerc's impressive drive from 19th to 3rd place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix wasn't enough to secure Ferrari the constructors' championship, as McLaren clinched the title in the season finale.
Starting from the back due to power unit penalties and qualifying issues, Leclerc made a spectacular first lap, gaining 11 positions and executing a bold triple overtake around the outside of Turn 6. Despite his aggressive strategy and remarkable recovery, Ferrari fell short of overturning their 21-point deficit to McLaren.
F1 cars racing in Abu Dhabi
"I'm really happy about the race, but the disappointment is a lot bigger," Leclerc reflected. "You don't win or lose a championship in the last race — McLaren has just done a better job than us throughout the season."
His teammate Carlos Sainz finished second in his final race for Ferrari, but couldn't match the pace of race winner Lando Norris, particularly after switching to hard tires. Sainz acknowledged McLaren's superior performance, stating they "deserve this championship" after being "rock solid in the last two-thirds of the championship."
The result marked a bittersweet end to Ferrari's season, with both drivers proud of their team's effort but ultimately falling short of their constructors' championship goal. McLaren's consistent performance throughout the latter part of the season proved decisive in securing their victory.