Formula 1 Abu Dhabi GP
Leclerc to take 10-place grid drop for Abu Dhabi GP
Ferrari’s constructors’ championship hopes hit by grid penalty for Charles Leclerc
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Dec 6, 2024, 7:33 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Charles Leclerc is set for a 10-place grid penalty at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Ferrari was forced to fit a new battery for the last race of the season.
The Monegasque is hoping to help Ferrari beat rival McLaren to the constructors’ championship this weekend in their close-fought battle.
However, his hopes have suffered a blow with the change of battery meaning he has used more than his allocation for the campaign.
The energy store fitted during Friday practice is his third of the year, which takes him over the allowed two parts – so it becomes an automatic 10-place drop.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Ferrari is 21 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship heading into the Yas Marina event, and realistically needs to deliver a 1-2 finish in the race to have any hope of overhauling its rival.
Speaking ahead of track action getting under way, Leclerc had said that there was no room for error in the team’s execution of the weekend if it was to deliver its target.
“I think on our side, we need to do everything perfect, that's for sure,” he said. “And by doing everything perfect, I really mean it.
“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, 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.”
Read Also:
Williams duo Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto will also be taking grid drops for using extra parts.
Both drivers face a five-place grid penalty after taking extra RNCs [restricted-number components] that are outside of their allocation for the year.
The teams said this was as a result of incidents that took place in Qatar last weekend. Colapinto was hit in a first-corner clash with Esteban Ocon while Albon came home lapped in 15th.
Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Practice
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
54
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Leclerc leads Norris in opening practice
Next article Is the Wolff vs Horner conflict back to F1 2021 levels?
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Charles Leclerc admits he missed a chance against Max Verstappen – but not the obvious one
Why Charles Leclerc failed to outbrake Max Verstappen in Turn 1 at Singapore GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Charles Leclerc failed to outbrake Max Verstappen in Turn 1 at Singapore GP
More from
Ferrari
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
20 h
Fred Vasseur "not sure" if Red Bull is currently F1's best team
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Why Ferrari caved in to Lewis Hamilton’s failed Singapore F1 gamble
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
2 h
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
5 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
5 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 6 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe