Charles Leclerc’s grid penalty at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has cast a long shadow over Ferrari’s championship hopes with the setback seemingly set to deny them a first constructors title since 2008.
The Monegasque driver who had been showing promising pace during practice was hit with a significant 10-place grid drop after the team opted to change his energy store due to a power unit issue.
Charles Leclerc’s grid penalty which was rather unexpected comes at a critical juncture for Ferrari, as they trail McLaren by 21 points in the Constructors’ Championship with only one race left in the season.
The developments unfolded during first practice for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit where Leclerc initially topped the timesheets, signaling a potential boost for Ferrari’s championship hopes.
However, shortly after the session began it became apparent that Leclerc’s car was experiencing technical difficulties. The team was forced to replace his energy store, which exceeded the maximum number of components allowed under F1 regulations.
As this was Leclerc’s third energy store of the season, it triggered an automatic grid penalty that will see him starting no higher than 11th on race day.
“The energy store used by Charles Leclerc is the third (3rd) of the two (2) new energy stores allowed for the 2024 Championship season and this is not in conformity with Article 28.2 of the 2024 Formula One Sporting Regulations,” read a document issued by FIA stewards shortly before the end of FP1.
With a maximum of 44 points available in the final race, the circumstances surrounding Ferrari’s championship hopes are already daunting, needing both Leclerc and his teammate Carlos Sainz to finish in the top two positions to beat McLaren.
The team’s last Constructors’ Championship victory came 16 years ago, and this season represented a golden opportunity to end that drought.
Leclerc’s grid penalty now complicates their strategy significantly. This comes after the Monesgaque had acknowledged the uphill battle ahead.
“I think on our side, we need to do everything perfect, that’s for sure, and by doing everything perfect, I really mean it,” he told Motorsport.com before Friday’s practice. “
“I think we need to do first and second this weekend and we need things to not go exactly the way they want in McLaren because on paper they will be strong on this track as well. It’s also true that we’ve never won here in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, so there’s quite a lot of work.
“It’s not impossible. I think we’ve had the right approach in the last few races, and we’ve taken some points, even on weekends where we did not expect to do so.
“On this weekend we are a bit more neutral, and we think that it’s going to be a positive weekend for us so I really hope that is the case and that we can take that opportunity in order to win the championship. But it’s a stretch for sure.”
The pressure is palpable as Ferrari must now rely on a mix of their own performance and misfortune for their rivals at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if they are to have any hope of overcoming McLaren’s lead.
McLaren has been in formidable form this season, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri consistently delivering strong results. Norris finished second in practice behind Leclerc and has been vocal about his team’s confidence heading into the race.
The implications of Leclerc’s grid penalty extend beyond just his starting position; they reflect broader issues within Ferrari’s campaign this season. The team has faced various challenges, including reliability concerns and strategic missteps during races that have cost them valuable points.
As the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race approaches, all eyes will be on Leclerc’s recovery drive and whether he can navigate through the field effectively despite starting from such a disadvantageous position.
The Yas Marina Circuit offers opportunities for overtaking, but it also poses challenges with its narrow sections and potential for accidents that could disrupt race strategies.
Besides Leclerc’s grid penalty, other drivers are also facing penalties that could shake up the grid further. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto are set to start from lower positions due to gearbox component penalties, which could create additional opportunities for both Ferrari and McLaren.
The battle for the Constructors’ Championship has reached a critical point where every decision made during practice sessions and qualifying will have far-reaching consequences on race day.
For Ferrari’s championship hopes to take a better turn, maintaining focus and executing flawless strategies will be paramount if they hope to capitalize on any potential mistakes from McLaren or other rivals during the race.
