The Monegasque was five tenths behind polesitter Max Verstappen, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton only finished 16th in what was his fourth consecutive start in Q1 (including sprints).
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It came after Hamilton suffered an early finish in FP3 due to a crash at Yas Marina’s Turn 9, continuing what has been a torrid season for Ferrari, who will finish fourth in the championship regardless of Sunday’s result.
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Lewis Hamilton explains the FP3 accident that led to Abu Dhabi leaving Q1
This despite having started the 2025 campaign with title hopes and having finished runner-up last year, but this season they have not achieved a victory in a grand prix with only one race left.
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So when asked about Hamilton’s problems and the Ferrari’s difficulty, Leclerc said: “I drive the car too and I can see how complicated it is, how you have to try your hardest and it’s either against the wall or in Q1.”
“Then you have to do the same thing in Q2 and then you have to do the same thing in Q3 and, yes, I know what it’s like to have a car like that… and also to understand the car, it’s much more difficult to understand something about the car when you really have to go to the absolute limit.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
“In Q2 I thought I would put it against the wall several times and that makes it difficult to improve the car as well; probably McLaren or Red Bull will do it by pushing a little less in Q1 and Q2, you understand better what is happening with the car. So, yes, it is a complicated situation we are in.”
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Leclerc has enjoyed many high moments since joining Ferrari in 2019, from winning the Monaco Grand Prix to two victories at the Scuderia’s home event at Monza.
But 2025 has presented few positive moments for the 28-year-old, forcing him to take heart with a mere fifth place finish when at one point it looked like Leclerc might drop out of Q2.
“It was very complicated, but especially that second lap in Q2 was very, very difficult to manage and finish the lap. In fact, I was quite happy to have finished it,” he added.
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“On top of that, it helped us get through to Q3. I was satisfied; it hurts to be satisfied with a P5, but right now that’s the situation we’re in, and all I can stand is a little bit of happiness every time we max out our car package. And I think that’s exactly what we’ve done today, but P5 is disappointing.”
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F1 Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen takes vital pole position ahead of Lando Norris
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