‘A difficult one to take’ – Charles Leclerc reacts to early qualifying exit as he insists ‘everything is possible’ in Abu Dhabi GP

Ferrari’s ideal scenario of having both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz starting at the front in Abu Dhabi was left in tatters as the Monegasque exited qualifying in Q2, with his 10-place grid penalty consigning him to a back-of-the-grid start.

With the constructors’ title on the line this weekend, the situation going into the Grand Prix has gone from bad to worse for Leclerc after the 27-year-old was handed the penalty on Friday after Ferrari were forced to replace the energy store in his car.

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As a result, qualifying near the top of the order in Abu Dhabi became all the more important given Ferrari’s hopes of winning the title – the Scuderia are currently 21 points behind leaders McLaren. However, Leclerc’s Q2 effort, which had originally sent him into P1, was deleted for track limits at Turn 1, leaving him in P14.

That will mean a start at the back of the grid for the Grand Prix with Leclerc now forced into executing a major recovery drive if Ferrari still hope to overhaul McLaren – a challenge made all the more difficult with the papaya team’s front row lock out.