Leclerc to take 10-place grid drop for Abu Dhabi GP

Charles Leclerc is about for a 10-place grid penalty on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after Ferrari was compelled to suit a brand new battery for the final race of the season.

The Monegasque is hoping to assist Ferrari beat rival McLaren to the constructors’ championship this weekend of their close-fought battle.

However, his hopes have suffered a blow with the change of battery that means he has used greater than his allocation for the marketing campaign.

The vitality retailer fitted throughout Friday follow is his third of the yr, which takes him over the allowed two components – so it turns into an automated 10-place drop.

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Ferrari is 21 factors behind McLaren within the constructors’ championship heading into the Yas Marina occasion, and realistically must ship a 1-2 end within the race to have any hope of overhauling its rival.

Speaking forward of monitor motion getting beneath method, Leclerc had stated that there was no room for error within the workforce’s execution of the weekend if it was to ship its goal.

“I believe on our facet, we have to do all the things excellent, that is for positive,” he stated. “And by doing all the things excellent, I actually imply it.

“I believe we have to do first and second this weekend and we’d like issues to not go precisely the way in which they need in McLaren as a result of on paper they are going to be sturdy on this monitor as nicely. It’s additionally true that we have by no means received right here in Abu Dhabi, so there’s numerous work.

“It’s not inconceivable. I believe we have had the appropriate method in the previous few races, and we have taken some factors, even on weekends the place we didn’t anticipate to take action.

“On this weekend we’re a bit extra impartial, and we expect that it should be a optimistic weekend for us so I actually hope that’s the case and that we are able to take that chance with a view to win the championship. But it is a stretch for positive.”

Williams duo Alex Albon and Franco Colapinto may even be taking grid drops for utilizing additional components.
 
Both drivers face a five-place grid penalty after taking additional RNCs [restricted-number components] which can be exterior of their allocation for the yr.

The groups stated this was on account of incidents that occurred in Qatar final weekend. Colapinto was hit in a first-corner conflict with Esteban Ocon whereas Albon got here residence lapped in fifteenth.

Photos from Abu Dhabi GP Practice