Leclerc: 'Trying to do the math' While Watching Title Fight in Qatar

Charles Leclerc had a challenging Qatar Grand Prix weekend, finishing in eighth position, but found some entertainment in observing the thrilling title battle unfolding at the front. The Ferrari driver openly admitted that watching the championship contenders — Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris — battle it out was "the most exciting part of my race" in what he otherwise described as a "very boring" event for him personally. This reflects a difficult weekend for Ferrari overall, as teammate Lewis Hamilton also struggled to score points.

Why it matters:

Ferrari, a team with a rich history of championship contention, is currently watching from the sidelines as other constructors and drivers vie for the top spot. Leclerc's candid remarks highlight the team's current position and their hunger to return to the front. For F1 as a whole, a tight championship battle heading into the final race generates immense excitement and viewership, even if top drivers like Leclerc are not directly involved. It also underscores the competitive challenge ahead for Ferrari if they wish to rejoin the elite.

The Details:

• Difficult Weekend for Ferrari: Leclerc secured only four points with an eighth-place finish, while his Ferrari teammate struggled to score any points in both the sprint and Grand Prix.
• 'DRS Train' Impact: Drivers faced significant difficulty in overtaking due to the 'DRS train' effect, where multiple cars within one second of each other negated the effectiveness of DRS.
• Leclerc's Race: Despite calling his race "very boring," Leclerc found engagement in following the front-runners on screen, trying to calculate the championship implications.
• Championship Battle: The battle saw Max Verstappen ultimately taking victory after McLaren's strategic blunder forced Piastri and Norris to fight through the field. Piastri recovered to second, while Norris finished fourth.
• Leclerc's Championship Outlook: Regarding the championship going into Abu Dhabi, Leclerc stated, "It's a tough one. I think anything can happen when it's that little points in between [the three of them]. It's probably going to be between Lando and Max. But anything can happen, especially with the tension that there will be."
• Impact on F1: Leclerc believes the close championship fight is "great" for Formula One, expressing his desire to be part of such a contest in the future.

What's Next:

With Lando Norris leading Max Verstappen by 12 points and Oscar Piastri by 16 points, the championship will be decided in the final race in Abu Dhabi. Leclerc's observations underline the high stakes and potential for unexpected turns. Ferrari will be looking to regroup and improve their performance to ensure they are not merely spectators in future title fights, with the focus shifting to their development for the upcoming seasons to close the gap to the front-running teams.