The joy was short-lived for Ferrari. Shortly after its driver Charles Leclerc set the best time in the first test of the Formula 1 (F1) Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, on the Yas Marina circuit, Friday December 6, it was sanctioned by the International Federation automobile (FIA) for a change of the battery pack on his car – the third this season while the regulations only allow two. The Monegasque receives a ten-place penalty on the starting grid on Sunday… enough to compromise the Scuderia’s chances of winning the constructors’ world championship title, which has eluded it since 2008.
A hard blow for the Italian team which was competing for the crown for the first time since F1 entered the hybrid era in 2014. It would now take a miracle for the Italian team to catch up with its British rival, McLaren, which is 21 points ahead at the dawn of the 24e and last round of the season and had not been crowned since 2021.
If there is no more suspense regarding the drivers’ championship – the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) having won his fourth title in a row on November 24 at the Las Vegas Grand Prix – second place was still achievable for Charles Leclerc before the Abu Dhabi round. Only 8 points separate the Monegasque from the Briton Lando Norris, third, whom he was ahead of on Friday morning before the FIA sanction. The two men have each won three victories on the circuit this season: Monaco, Monza and Austin for the Ferrari racer; Singapore, Zandvoort and Miami for that of McLaren. If he wants to be able to climb another step, Charles Leclerc will have to take advantage of the two straight lines of the Emirati circuit, built on an artificial island.
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