Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Race team notes – Ferrari

Scuderia Ferrari has ended the 2023 season with its ninth podium of the season. It got here courtesy of Charles Leclerc, whose second place end as we speak on the Yas Marina circuit was by no means doubtful.

Sadly, Carlos Sainz had a troublesome day and so second place within the Constructors’ championship was to not be, though the hole to Mercedes was a mere three factors ultimately. Nonetheless, Ferrari has demonstrated clear indicators of progress within the second half of the season, establishing itself because the second finest workforce, as will be seen from its tally of 215 factors for the reason that summer season break, even when there have been just a few too many no-scores. The Scuderia can be the one workforce apart from the dominant Crimson Bull to safe a win this 12 months.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was not essentially the most thrilling race. Charles tried to cross Max Verstappen at first, after which he targeting managing his tyres and the hole to these behind, at first the 2 McLarens after which George Russell within the Mercedes, within the hope that a possibility may come up in some unspecified time in the future over the 58 laps. The Monegasque was on a two-stop technique, beginning on the Medium, then twice becoming Hards and he was at all times one of many quickest vehicles on observe. As for Carlos, he began from sixteenth on Arduous tyres, transferring onto a two-stop technique, operating a really lengthy second stint on the toughest compound hoping for an eventual Security Automobile, but it surely by no means got here. The Spaniard pitted once more with two laps remaining, taking over a set of Softs, however the workforce determined to retire the automobile and he was labeled 18th.

Over the previous few laps, Charles tried all the pieces to try to safe Ferrari second place within the Constructors’ World Championship and he even let Sergio Perez within the Crimson Bull, who had a 5 second time penalty, cross him within the hope this could assist the Mexican pull out a 5 second hole and thus end between him and George Russell, however the transfer did not work, in order that ultimately, Leclerc was nonetheless second on the rostrum, alongside Verstappen and the aforementioned Russell, who had subsequently achieved sufficient to stop the Scuderia catching Mercedes within the Constructors’ standings.

The 2023 season is now over, however the vehicles have yet one more day of observe motion forward at Yas Marina. This Tuesday they’ll deal with a post-season check. Carlos and Charles will each drive one of many vehicles, whereas the opposite will once more be entrusted to order driver Robert Shwartzman. And there are solely 97 days to go to the beginning of the 2024 season!

Charles Leclerc: As we speak, I had an excellent automobile and the technique was the suitable one. I might have pushed laborious for a lot of laps on the Medium tyres and my second place was by no means in peril. Sadly, ultimately, Checo’s (Perez) 5 second penalty price us quite a bit. In direction of the tip I attempted to assist him to construct a niche over George (Russell) in order that he might wipe out the penalty and end forward of the Mercedes, which might have put us forward of them within the classification.

Nonetheless, trying again on the season, we are able to say it has been constructive. We began the 12 months with a automobile that we couldn’t push to the restrict. We knew what the issue was, but it surely took some time to alter issues. From Japan onwards my Ferrari grew to become a really totally different automobile, able to excellent outcomes. Sadly, over the course of the 12 months there have been a number of events after we had been in a robust place however left factors on the desk: I am considering of my retirement in Bahrain once I was third, or in Brazil, the place I certified on the entrance row however I by no means truly began the race.

I hope that, over the winter, we will put all the pieces we’ve got realized to good use with a purpose to be aggressive proper from the beginning of subsequent season. We wish to give one thing again to our followers for all their continued help.

Carlos Sainz: Not the way in which we needed to complete the season, with a really robust double-header on my facet in Las Vegas and right here in Abu Dhabi. The race as we speak was by no means going to be straightforward. The primary stint on the Arduous was dangerous and it did not go to plan. From there on our race was a bit compromised and we waited for a Security Automobile that by no means got here.

It hurts badly to overlook P2 within the Constructors however there have been loads of positives all year long and we’ll after all work on the issues we might’ve achieved higher.

I wish to thank all the workforce, right here and again dwelling in Maranello, for his or her unbelievable effort all season lengthy and likewise ship a large thanks to each single fan for his or her relentless help. We are going to regroup throughout the winter and are available again stronger subsequent 12 months. Grazie a tutti e Forza Ferrari sempre.

Frederic Vasseur, Crew Principal: We’re glad to have completed a removed from straightforward season with a stable efficiency from Charles. Sadly, Carlos’ weekend took a flip for the more serious ranging from Friday and it is a disgrace he was unable to carry dwelling the three factors but it surely’s not as we speak that we misplaced second place within the Constructors’.

Clearly, as Ferrari, we’re by no means that involved in ending second, however it will nonetheless have been a reward for everybody who labored laborious on the observe and people who at all times gave it all the pieces that they had again in Maranello ever for the reason that SF-23 first rolled out onto the Fiorano observe.

However the entire group will be happy with the way it reacted and fought again within the second a part of the season. After the summer season break that adopted the Dutch Grand Prix, we made fixed progress, to the purpose that we’re the one workforce other than Crimson Bull to have gained a race. Charles ended the season with a string of sturdy performances and Carlos additionally had some very constructive races together with that Singapore win after all. The curtain comes down on Tuesday after the check and we’re already waiting for the subsequent one. We’re decided to proceed with the progress we’ve got demonstrated over the previous ten races.