LECLERC AIMS FOR PERFECT ENDING

Ferrari bullish about finishing season with constructors’ title after dominating US GP

- REUTERS, AFP

AUSTIN – Ferrari last won a Formula One title in 2008 but their one-two at the United States Grand Prix on Oct 20 put the constructors’ championship firmly in their sights.

Race winner Charles Leclerc said as much, even if he described it as still an “optimistic” target with five rounds remaining. McLaren are 40 points clear of champions Red Bull with Ferrari third and a further eight behind, but the Italian team took a hefty 55-point haul from Austin - the tally boosted by a sprint weekend.

That was 27 more than McLaren and 26 more than Red Bull managed, as well as being the team's biggest single weekend score of 2024.

Ferrari have outscored Red Bull in five of the last seven races but McLaren only twice in the same period.

“We’ve got to target winning the constructors’ title. It’s an optimistic goal, but that’s what we are here for,” Leclerc, 27, said.

“It’s been a really good weekend for the team... hopefully at the end of the year, when we do the math, we will have won the constructors’ title.

“If we do everything perfect until the end of the season, no matter what McLaren does, if we do better than them, I think we can still clinch that title.”