Scuderia Ferrari came tantalizingly close to claiming the Constructors’ Championship this season but ultimately fell short as McLaren secured the title in Abu Dhabi.

The Italian side delivered a strong performance at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Charles Leclerc charging through the field to secure third place, joining teammate Carlos Sainz, who finished second. This double podium effort highlighted Ferrari’s ability to push McLaren right to the wire.

The pressure was palpable, especially after Oscar Piastri lost significant time due to a collision with Max Verstappen, raising the possibility that any mistake from race leader Lando Norris might have swung the championship in Ferrari’s favor. Despite the odds, McLaren held firm, leaving Ferrari to reflect on an impressive yet ultimately second-place finish.

Over the course of the season, Ferrari proved competitive and adept at minimizing poor results, allowing them to maintain a credible title challenge despite McLaren and Red Bull enjoying longer periods of dominance. Their victories at marquee events such as Monaco, where Charles Leclerc dominated, and the Italian Grand Prix, as well as a win in Austin, showcased the team’s ability to capitalize on opportunities.

Former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe expressed his admiration for Ferrari’s efforts, noting their ability to impress even without winning their first Constructors’ Championship since 2008.

Ferrari’s strength lay in consistency rather than outright speed, as they rarely possessed the fastest car on the grid this year. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz demonstrated remarkable skill in extracting the maximum performance from the SF-24, even when the car was outclassed by rivals.

When one driver faltered, such as the Monegasque driver’s tough outing in Austria, the other stepped up. Carlos Sainz’s third-place finish at the Red Bull Ring, following a collision between Verstappen and Norris, ensured Ferrari remained a threat.

Scuderia Ferrari’s adaptability across varying conditions was also a highlight. For instance, in Mexico City, they performed well despite the challenges posed by the high altitude, which necessitated a drag-heavy rear wing to counter reduced air density and downforce.

Hinchcliffe believes it was this season-long consistency that enabled Ferrari to mount a credible challenge against McLaren. Speaking on the *Off Track with Hinch and Rossi* podcast, he emphasized that Ferrari’s ability to stay competitive, even without consistently having the fastest car, was a testament to their resilience and strategic execution: “Ferrari, great job. Very few times this year did they have the fastest car on a race weekend. That’s actually what’s so impressive about the fact that they took that thing down to the last lap of the championship because both their guys were just so good at bringing home those fourths to sevenths when their cars were average.” – he pointed out.

James Hinchcliffe continued: “McLaren had the strongest car in a bunch of races. Mercedes had the strongest car in a bunch of races. Obviously, Red Bull started with the strongest car. But Ferrari, you could say Austin, and you would have thought Vegas, but then Mercedes showed up and blitzed them in Vegas.” – he added.

Ferrari is set for a major shakeup as Carlos Sainz departs the team to join Williams, following the announcement that Lewis Hamilton will take his place alongside Charles Leclerc for the 2025 season.

Sainz, confident in his abilities, believes he is stronger than Hamilton, his successor at Ferrari. However, adapting to Williams’ midfield ambitions may present a challenge, especially as the team focuses on rebuilding rather than competing for podiums. Sainz’s experience could be key in helping Williams move forward, but the adjustment to a different competitive environment will undoubtedly take time.

Ferrari, meanwhile, is well-positioned to carry their strong momentum into 2025. Closing the 2024 season on a high note, the Scuderia now boasts an enviable driver pairing with Leclerc and Hamilton. Both have a wealth of race-winning experience, making them formidable contenders as the team aims to reclaim championship glory.

Elsewhere, the Maranello team’s rivals may face challenges of their own. Red Bull could encounter difficulties, particularly if Liam Lawson steps up to partner Max Verstappen. The heightened pressure of competing at the front of the grid may pose significant hurdles for the young driver.

Mercedes, too, will be navigating new dynamics with the introduction of Kimi Antonelli. The rookie Italian driver will join George Russell, but the steep learning curve of Formula 1 could mean a period of adjustment as Antonelli finds his footing in the top tier of motorsport.

This influx of younger, less experienced drivers at Red Bull and Mercedes could provide Ferrari with an early advantage in 2025. While their competitors work to acclimate new talent to the demands of high-stakes racing, Ferrari’s established and battle-hardened lineup may allow them to hit the ground running, keeping their championship aspirations firmly in sight.

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Brad Pitt, one of the film’s stars, has been spotted at numerous races throughout the season, filming scenes amidst live audiences to capture the sport’s authentic atmosphere. Alongside co-star Damson Idris, who portrays his on-screen teammate, Pitt has also been behind the wheel of the custom-built car designed specifically for capturing dynamic race footage.

Scheduled for a global debut on June 25, 2025, the movie will hit U.S. theaters two days later. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and Apple, its release coincides with the lead-up to the Austrian Grand Prix in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Watch as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell film a race scene for Brad Pitt’s upcoming F1 movie:

— see video above —

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The chequered flag waved last Tuesday evening, marking the end of the post-season testing day at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island and signaling the official start of the countdown to the 2025 Formula 1 season. Although major changes to the sport’s regulations won’t come until 2026, there’s still plenty to look forward to as the F1 paddock prepares for pre-season testing in Bahrain on February 26, 2024.

One of the most intriguing storylines for the 2025 season revolves around the significant driver changes set to take place across multiple teams. In fact, more than half of the grid will feature at least one new driver, with one manufacturer in particular grabbing the spotlight for their moves. Ferrari, in a bold and strategic move, has managed to recruit the most successful driver in F1 history, Lewis Hamilton, who will be racing for only his third team in what will be his 18th season in the sport.

The British driver, known for his intense rivalries with some of F1’s greatest drivers, has had his fair share of challenges with teammates over the years. From his notorious clash with Fernando Alonso during his debut season with McLaren in 2007 to his fierce battle with Nico Rosberg, Hamilton has experienced a wide range of dynamics within his teams. His partnership with Jenson Button at McLaren was another defining moment in his career, followed by his dominant years with Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton has also played a crucial role in mentoring George Russell, who will take over as Mercedes’ team leader starting next year.

However, Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, will present a very different challenge. Charles Leclerc, one of the most talented and successful homegrown drivers in modern F1, has already made a significant mark within Ferrari, and his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton promises to be one of the most exciting narratives in the sport. The Monegasque driver himself has acknowledged the distinct difference between Hamilton and his former teammate Carlos Sainz, with the two sharing a bond of mutual respect, as seen in their interaction after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

A report from the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has shed light on how Ferrari ended their season on a high note despite not securing the Constructors’ Championship. It was important for the team to give Sainz a fitting farewell after his four years of dedicated service. The Spaniard was deeply moved by a heartfelt farewell video, and some of the Ferrari staff serenaded him with the song “Sara Perche Ti Amo,” a tribute to AC Milan that translates to “It must be because I love you.” Charles Leclerc, in a touching gesture, dedicated his race helmet to Sainz and expressed his eagerness to race alongside him in the future.

Meanwhile, after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was seen in the paddock sharing an emotional embrace with Leclerc. According to the Italian media, it was a moment filled with melancholy, as Ferrari had fallen short in their bid to catch McLaren in the Constructors’ standings. Leclerc’s impressive third-place finish, despite a grid penalty, underscored his resilience throughout the weekend.

The appearance of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion at the Ferrari garage was also noted by the Italian media, with some fans questioning his wardrobe choices. While most drivers stick to team-branded attire when entering the paddock, Lewis Hamilton is known for his distinctive style and rarely wears Mercedes merchandise unless required. For the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he transitioned from an all-white outfit after Friday’s practice sessions to donning Ferrari red on Sunday, sparking speculation about his upcoming move. After the race, Lewis Hamilton was spotted entering the Ferrari garage, though it’s unclear what he was doing there or how long he spent with his future team. It’s likely that he’s already beginning the process of integrating himself into Ferrari’s operations ahead of one of the most significant changes he’ll experience in his F1 career.

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This last move was then voted as the “overtake of the month” for December. Below, you can find an onboard video of Charles Leclerc as he was about to complete the maneuver and overtake his rivals.

¡OFICIAL!

El triple adelantamiento de Leclerc es el Adelantamiento del Mes de Diciembre

pic.twitter.com/agwNwdNJcH

— ElReyGuiri (@ElReyGuiri) December 12, 2024

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Carlos Sainz bid farewell to Ferrari with a commendable performance under the lights of Yas Marina, capping off a tenure marked by his pivotal role in the team’s rebuilding efforts over the past few seasons.

While his teammate Charles Leclerc charged through the field following a 10-place grid penalty, Sainz found himself in the thick of a championship battle at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Tasked with capitalizing on any opening against McLaren, he delivered a strong drive.

However, the relentless pace of McLaren and Lando Norris proved insurmountable. Carlos Sainz, despite his best efforts, found himself unable to close the gap, with Lando Norris maintaining control as if he were pulling the Ferrari driver along on a string.

As Carlos Sainz moves to Williams, the shift signals a likely pause in his aspirations for championship glory. The new chapter in his career may see him sidelined from title contention for the foreseeable future.

McLaren’s Pace Highlights Key Moment in Carlos Sainz’s Abu Dhabi Farewell

Ferrari’s primary objective for Carlos Sainz in Abu Dhabi was simple: stay within striking distance and capitalize on any errors or misfortune that might befall Norris or McLaren. Throughout the race, Carlos Sainz applied consistent pressure, ready to seize any opportunity.

Yet, Norris exhibited poise far beyond his years, maintaining composure and delivering a flawless performance to secure victory. This left Ferrari without the breakthrough they had hoped for, despite Sainz’s determined efforts.

Formula 1 journalist Peter Windsor later pointed to a critical moment in the race that might have sealed Carlos Sainz’s fate. He speculated that the future Williams driver may have suffered from debris damage, subtly but significantly impacting his pace and limiting his ability to challenge Norris.

As the Spaniard prepares to embark on a new journey with Williams, his final outing with Ferrari served as a testament to his resilience and skill, even if it fell just short of a fairy-tale ending. The transition marks the end of a significant chapter, with Carlos Sainz leaving behind a team that he helped restore to competitiveness, even as new challenges await him in the paddock.

“Then, when the traffic came later in the race, and it looked as if Carlos maybe went over a bit of debris. Particularly sector three where there are lots of corners – slow, medium-speed corners. He started to lose three/four tenths per lap, just on that sector. He got it back again towards the end of the race when Lando was driving with margin. That was a telling moment of the race I think.” – the former Ferrari general manager pointed out.

During the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the performance drop that Peter Windsor highlighted could have cost Carlos Sainz nearly 10 seconds over just 25 laps—a span covering less than half the race distance. For a driver who finished mere seconds behind Lando Norris, this time loss underscores just how close Sainz might have come to mounting a serious challenge for victory had his pace not been hindered.

What Lies Ahead for the Spaniard at Williams?

Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams marks a significant shift in his career trajectory, and it’s a blow to his hopes of becoming a Formula 1 world champion. At 30 years old, he may find himself spending his prime years battling in the midfield rather than fighting for wins.

Despite this, the Spanish driver remains mentally robust, famously declaring himself stronger than Lewis Hamilton—the seven-time Formula 1 champion who is now set to replace him at Scuderia Ferrari. This unshakable confidence could prove invaluable as he prepares for what will likely be a challenging 2025 season. Driving a car expected to hover on the edge of scoring points, Carlos Sainz’s resilience and experience will be key assets for Williams.

While it’s tempting to view his move as a squandered opportunity for a driver of his caliber, Sainz doesn’t see it that way. He insists that joining Williams is not a step backward, highlighting his faith in the team’s direction and potential. His belief aligns with the recent progress the team has shown, particularly under the leadership of James Vowles, whose behind-the-scenes efforts have already begun to bear fruit.

Looking beyond the immediate future, there’s optimism that Williams could become a competitive force by 2026 and beyond, thanks to the foundational work being laid now. For Carlos Sainz, the question is whether he can endure the interim years and maintain the drive and determination to seize whatever opportunities might come his way.

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Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc delivered a remarkable performance in the 2024 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, securing a third-place podium finish against all odds.

Heading into the season finale, the Monegasque driver had the opportunity to claim second place in the Drivers’ Championship, while Ferrari still had an outside shot at the Constructors’ title, trailing McLaren by 21 points. However, a challenging situation became even tougher when Charles Leclerc was handed a 10-place grid penalty for a battery change during practice. The weekend deteriorated further in qualifying when the 27-year-old had a Q2 lap deleted, resulting in his elimination and leaving him 19th on the grid.

Charles Leclerc made a lightning start in the race, navigating the chaos at turn one involving Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to climb to eighth by turn seven. Despite starting deep in the field, the Ferrari driver charged through the pack to finish third, just behind teammate Carlos Sainz. However, Ferrari’s collective efforts fell short, as Lando Norris converted his pole position into a dominant win, securing McLaren the Constructors’ Championship by a 14-point margin.

For Charles Leclerc, the near-miss was undoubtedly heartbreaking, yet his extraordinary drive underscored his immense value to Ferrari, proving he can be a cornerstone for the team moving forward.

This extraordinary display also placed Leclerc in an elite category in F1 history.

Charles Leclerc Joins Exclusive Club of Drivers to Start 19th and Finish on the Podium

Leclerc became just the fourth driver in Formula 1 history to achieve the rare feat of starting 19th on the grid and finishing on the podium. This accomplishment has occurred only three other times in the sport’s storied history, dating back to 1954.

The first instance happened during the 1954 Indianapolis 500, when American driver Bill Vukovich started 19th and astonishingly won the race. At the time, the Indy 500 was part of the F1 World Championship. That race marked Vukovich’s sole F1 appearance, and his victory was his second consecutive win at Indianapolis.

The feat was not repeated for another 53 years, until Alex Wurz of Williams climbed from 19th to third at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Wurz capitalized on multiple incidents to secure the podium in a race that also marked Lewis Hamilton’s first-ever F1 victory.

The most recent driver to accomplish this before Leclerc was Valtteri Bottas, who finished third at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix after starting 19th. Bottas, piloting the formidable Mercedes W11, benefited from strategic opportunities and rival misfortunes to finish between the McLarens of Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris.

Charles Leclerc’s incredible drive at Yas Marina now places him alongside these legends of recovery drives, etching his name into the annals of Formula 1 history.

Charles Leclerc Bids Farewell to Carlos Sainz at Ferrari

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also marked a poignant milestone for Charles Leclerc as it was his final race alongside teammate Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. The Spaniard will leave the team to join Williams, making way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to partner with the Monegasque driver starting with the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.

Charles Leclerc dedicated his final team radio message to Carlos Sainz, expressing gratitude for the four years they spent together at Maranello. He acknowledged that Carlos Sainz had helped him improve in several aspects of his racing, lessons he intends to carry forward as he prepares to face the British driver.

The Monegasque driver, now firmly established as Ferrari’s leading figure, is expected to pose a significant challenge to Lewis Hamilton. Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has suggested that the Mercedes man will need a “full reset” as he transitions to Scuderia Ferrari, following three challenging years with the German side..

As the curtain falls on the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, Charles Leclerc’s performance in Abu Dhabi serves as a powerful reminder of his resilience and determination, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling 2025 Formula 1 championship for the Maranello team.

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— see video above —

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Ferrari gave it a shot, with a perfect Formula 1 race executed by both drivers. In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz defied performance predictions, keeping pace with McLaren for much of the race. However, Ferrari needed a win. The course of the entire race weekend confirmed once again how unfavorable the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island is to the Italian team. The Maranello squad must channel the disappointment of drivers, engineers, and mechanics into a sort of motivational springboard to bounce back stronger in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

McLaren is the constructors’ world champion. An unrelenting pace on the Hard tire allowed Lando Norris to make the difference over Carlos Sainz and secure the ninth title for the British team. The Englishman won the final race of the season thanks to a strong second half of the race, enabling the Woking-based team to capitalize on their efforts throughout the F1 season. After the events of the first stint, the situation became clear: whoever won the race would deliver the constructors’ title to their team. For Ferrari, however, a second-place finish from Charles Leclerc was also necessary.

The Monegasque driver delivered an excellent first part of the race, finishing fourth after starting from the last spot on the grid. The Monegasque’s pace was six-tenths slower than the leading duo due to traffic. He executed a remarkable comeback, closing in on George Russell, who slowed him down in the last two laps of his stint. Charles Leclerc gained ground on the straights, but George Russell pulled away in the technical sections, never allowing DRS or an overtaking opportunity. Carlos Sainz was in second place and had a pace comparable to Lando Norris.

The Spaniard, after the virtual safety car, stabilized his gap to the winner at around 3-4 seconds until the end of the stint. Based on the telemetry analysis of the data related to tire degradation, we can notice the fact that the performance drop-off for both drivers was very similar. The most critical sector for the Spaniard was the third, where he lost about two-tenths. As in the qualifying session, the most challenging turn for the SF-24 was Turn 9, where Lando Norris was more effective in all phases: entry, mid-corner, and exit. Moreover, the Ferrari driver was very aggressive on the brakes between Turns 12 and 15, favoring entry over exit. This choice, overall, was not beneficial.

Consequently, the Spanish driver was slower in the short straight leading to the final turn and lost more time than he gained under braking, namely about half a tenth. Mercedes also had a strong first part of the race, diversifying strategies to help Lewis Hamilton recover from the back of the pack. The future Ferrari driver completed over 30 laps on the Hard tires, improving his references as the car became lighter. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion ended the first stint with a pace similar to his teammate, who started on the yellow-banded Pirelli tires.

George Russell experienced accelerated tire wear in the final part of the stint, forcing his team to pit earlier than planned. Both Brackley cars benefited from excellent straight-line speed thanks to their low-drag aerodynamic setup. However, this configuration did not provide good traction. The W15 slid significantly on corner exits, and the drivers could not be aggressive on the throttle without exacerbating tire wear further.

Charles Leclerc was the first of the leading drivers to pit and switch to Hard tires. The plan defined by the pit wall for the Monegasque was Plan C, which involved completing over 30 laps in the second stint. To extend the life of his tires, the Monegasque driver adopted a very slow initial phase in the early laps. Thanks to this approach, he was able to improve his lap times until the end of the race, achieving the highest lap time improvement among the top drivers. The Ferrari driver had to defend against the approaching Mercedes from behind, managing tire wear particularly between laps 40 and 44.

Therefore, at the pit wall’s request, Charles Leclerc increased his pace during those laps to lower tire temperatures before pushing again. At the front, Lando Norris secured the victory with an average pace two-tenths better than Carlos Sainz’s SF-24 on the Hard tires. Looking at the degradation info based on data collected from the second stint, the Spaniard matched the Englishman’s pace for only five laps. Lando Norris once again showcased the MCL38’s advancements in terms of tire management, setting his best times in the final part of the stint when Carlos Sainz faced the most difficulties.

From a telemetry perspective, the third sector proved to be the most challenging once again. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were faster than Lando Norris in the first two-thirds of the track due to the setup chosen by the Italian team compared to McLaren. Ferrari leveraged the straights in the first two sectors to match Lando Norris’s performance, recovering what was lost in traction at Turns 5 and 7 and cornering at Turn 1. The final sector, however, favored the MCL38, which, thanks to greater aerodynamic downforce, was faster at Turn 9 and more effective in traction, sliding less due to vertical load.

Ferrari likely opted for a lower-downforce setup to facilitate position recovery after qualifying. This choice paid off with Charles Leclerc, who easily gained positions, but disadvantaged Carlos Sainz, who had a strong qualifying. On Medium tires, Lewis Hamilton was the fastest on track. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion finished the race in fourth place, lapping nearly nine-tenths faster than his Mercedes teammate in the second stint of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In terms of tire management, the two drivers experienced opposite performance degradation.

George Russell struggled to bring his tires up to temperature, suffering from graining early in the stint, which compromised the final part of his race. Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, improved his lap times as the stint progressed, partly due to a shorter stint. The Briton maximized tire performance in traction, exiting Turns 5 and 7, to close the gap to his teammate. Ferrari came close, but the comeback in the final races was not enough to close the gap to McLaren. The Maranello technicians and engineers should have addressed this earlier, during the middle of the Formula 1 championship, where they squandered many opportunities with subpar performances following the introduction of an aerodynamic update package at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

Even the Woking team lost a significant number of points along the way, but ultimately, Andrea Stella‘s team left 14 fewer points on the table than Frederic Vasseur’s. It’s worth noting, however, that the Frenchman put his mark on a Ferrari car a year later than his counterpart at McLaren. Only in 2024 did Frederic Vasseur shape his Ferrari, bringing it within just a few points of the championship this year. The SF-24 single-seater was a very competitive car after the summer break, laying a solid foundation for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

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From Ferrari to Williams, a tough battle in the midfield awaits Carlos Sainz, now a driver for the English team. The Spaniard recounted his emotions during the final laps of the 2024 Abu Dhabi GP. Alongside the bittersweet farewell to the Scuderia, Carlos Sainz displayed moments of clarity, already focused on helping the Grove-based team.

A stellar performance from the two Ferrari drivers in Abu Dhabi wasn’t enough. Carlos and Charles pushed hard to put pressure on a McLaren—Lando Norris’s—that never faltered despite challenges. The British Papaya team triumphed, leaving Carlos Sainz to part ways with Ferrari—with no small amount of disappointment—without achieving the ultimate dream of a world title.

After the race in the Emirates, the Spanish driver shared his thoughts on those final laps at the wheel of the Maranello machine. Already on Monday and Tuesday, immediately following the season’s last weekend, the Spanish driver will don Williams blue to test his new car. “I don’t think it will be too difficult to turn the page,” an emotional Carlos Sainz admitted. “But I won’t lie—during my last laps, while pushing like mad for this team, I was already starting to feel certain things about the car, telling myself: ‘Remember how it feels.’ On Monday and Tuesday, I’ll need to remember why this car is fast in certain corners and why the feeling is good.”

Even in the final kilometers at Yas Marina, Carlos Sainz was thinking about the hard work awaiting him in 2025. Williams concluded the season with only 17 points, finishing second to last in the Constructors’ Championship. “I know the car I’ll find on Monday and Tuesday will likely have a lot of room for improvement in the corners. That’s to say, I’m already looking ahead.”

“I’m extremely motivated for the challenge that lies ahead,” the #55 driver said during the post-race press conference. “Today (Sunday after the race) I’ll enjoy this last day in red with this team as much as possible. We’ll still have a few days in Maranello, but of course, my focus is already on understanding how to improve the Williams car.”

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After the race, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur explained that beyond performance concerns, the real issue prompting the replacement was the risk of a race retirement, something the Italian side clearly could not afford given the goal of keeping their championship hopes alive. Undoubtedly, the penalty was a bitter note to start the weekend, which was further complicated by Charles Leclerc’s lap time cancellation in Q2, effectively sending him to the back of the grid.

The night between Saturday and Sunday was full of deliberation, especially regarding whether to replace the Power Unit. In the end, they decided to stick with the unit already mounted on the car. This decision made sense, as the degradation of the internal combustion engine over its life cycle has been reduced, particularly since teams have focused more on reliability than pure power following the freeze.

What surprised most was the decision to start on medium tires, not only because there was always the risk that contact could further compromise the race but also because the hard tire potentially offered greater strategic flexibility in a race where there were still some doubts, despite the general intention to aim for a one-stop strategy. It’s no coincidence that teams kept a second set of hard tires as a backup.

It was an all-in on the start, and it paid off, realistically exceeding Ferrari’s best expectations. To understand why this was a bold choice and, above all, an attacking strategy, we need to go back twelve months to last year’s GP. Even then, limited tire degradation would have allowed for a one-stop strategy, but some teams’ early pit stops created a domino effect, shifting the race towards two stops.

This scenario re-emerged this year. Pirelli’s calculations suggested that a one-stop strategy should have been a few seconds faster than a two-stop, generally encouraging teams to aim for one stop while managing degradation. However, if last year’s situation repeated, the race could have shifted to two stops, which several teams considered at one point during the Grand Prix.

Thus, the hard tire could have been a cautious but logical choice. While it would not have offered exceptional grip at the start, it would have allowed for a longer stint, observing competitors’ strategies, and potentially capitalizing on a Safety Car at an opportune moment. This was Mercedes’ reasoning, whereas Ferrari immediately clarified their attacking strategy. If the start had not gone well, recovering with the same tires as the rivals would undoubtedly have required rethinking many aspects mid-race.

Conversely, Ferrari’s gamble on an aggressive race paid off better than expected. Charles Leclerc’s brilliant first lap was aided by a bit of luck, with some favorable incidents, but his ability to extract the maximum, find space, believe in himself, and make a difference stood out. Rising to eighth position right away put the Monegasque in a position to potentially battle top-tier rivals on equal strategic footing at a point in the race when the winning tactic was still unclear.

Ultimately, the medium tire turned from a potential risk into one of the keys to the podium. Charles Leclerc continued to climb the standings, reaching fourth place, before facing the challenge of George Russell, who was slightly off form this weekend compared to other races after dedicating part of practice to experimental testing for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Although Charles Leclerc had good pace, overtaking in Abu Dhabi is challenging, especially when entering dirty air, which increases tire sliding in the third sector. This led Ferrari to deliberate on their next move: after Mercedes didn’t take the bait on a feint aimed at pushing them into a pit stop, Ferrari decided to pull the trigger and call in Charles Leclerc.

At a time when other teams had already stopped, shifting the race towards two pit stops, Ferrari’s decision was not without doubts. The pit window was roughly the same as last year when the race shifted to two stops, making the risk of a repeat significant. If the hard tire held, Charles Leclerc would need to complete 38 laps on the same set. Additionally, stopping early risked encountering traffic from drivers like Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg, who had changed tires 5–6 laps earlier.

Stopping early was an aggressive yet calculated choice, as they also kept an eye on Lewis Hamilton, less than ten seconds behind and clearly on a one-stop strategy. Like the initial medium tire choice, this bold decision paid off, not only because the undercut worked but also because the race unfolded as Ferrari had hoped.

Looking at the first stint on hard tires, many doubted whether the hardest compound could last until the end, and there was speculation about the next pit window. When asked in code if he thought the tires could go the distance, even Charles Leclerc expressed doubts.

However, lap by lap, degradation proved manageable, shifting the race from a two-stop to a one-stop strategy, making Ferrari’s choice effective, especially against Lewis Hamilton.

Charles Leclerc’s comeback boiled down to two key factors: his ability to deliver a stunning first lap and maintain strong pace in key race moments, and Ferrari’s bold strategy. The Maranello team took risks in a Grand Prix where they aimed to seize their chances until the end, leaving no room for regret.

— see video above —

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