F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying - Source: Getty
Carlos Sainz, driving his final race for Ferrari, finished P3 in the qualifying session of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, two tenths behind McLaren's pole winner, Lando Norris. Given the difference in final timings, the Spanish driver acknowledged that McLaren is a step ahead in terms of performance and overall pace of the car. Moreover, with Charles Leclerc's 10-place grid penalty, Ferrari's constructors' title campaign is likely to take a hit.
Ferrari, currently trailing McLaren by 21 points in the constructors' title race, received a huge blow on Friday as Leclerc was hit with a 10-place grid penalty for a battery change. The pressure mounted on the Italian team in the qualifying session on Saturday as both Leclerc and Sainz battled toe-to-toe with McLaren drivers. However, the Monegasque was knocked out in Q2, finishing P14 with a lap time of 1:23.833.
Sainz, meanwhile, had a flying lap in Q3 to secure P3. He lagged two-tenths behind pole winner Lando Norris and only a couple of hundredths behind Piastri. However, the Spaniard stated that McLaren had superior performance compared to Ferrari. Talking to F1 TV, Sainz said that McLaren appears a step ahead. He added that he pushed the car to its extreme in the qualifying session, but McLaren managed to beat him.
