It certainly won’t be an easy race emotionally. In the Abu Dhabi GP, where the Constructors’ title will be decided, Andrea Stella will witness a battle between his past and present, in a Ferrari-McLaren fight slightly leaning towards Woking following Charles Leclerc’s penalty.
On one side, the papaya team can rely on two drivers and a front-row start, while Ferrari (at least initially) will have to attack with only Carlos Sainz. Charles Leclerc will start from the back of the grid due to a penalty for a battery change and his Q2 lap being deleted.
This could prove to be a decisive factor in the race that will crown the winner of a Constructors’ Championship that has delivered excitement throughout the season.
Andrea Stella doesn’t trust Ferrari
At the end of Abu Dhabi GP qualifying, Andrea Stella spoke about the battle between McLaren and Ferrari and how Leclerc could be a wildcard in the race. “It will be an important day because we are competing for a world championship. Despite this, our approach has remained the same as always. We need to stay focused, enjoy the moment, and be aware that we are privileged to be in this position,” said Stella.
“We have grown so much over the past two years, and I emphasized this in the team meeting. We must be proud of the work we’ve done,” the McLaren Team Principal added.
Stella then moved to temper the excitement after what happened in Lusail. “In Qatar, we thought we had everything under control, but we saw how it ended. We’ll need to stay focused throughout the race because anything can happen.”
“We must not assume Charles Leclerc is out of contention. He’s an incredibly fast driver in a very fast car. They will certainly try something different to make up ground,” the former Ferrari figure concluded.
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