It is the much-awaited season finale for the 2022 World Championship, and tension is high amongst the F1 fans even though the top spot of the Drivers’ Standings has been claimed by Max Verstappen weeks ago. And the reason behind all the speculations and talks that are going on in the F1 town is the all-consuming fight for the second spot in the World Championship between intital Championship favorite Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s kingpin Sergio Perez.
Right from the start of the current season, Charles Leclerc had impressed all the Formula One pundits with his supreme skills behind the wheels of the F1-75. But he could not keep up his form for long as Max Verstappen, backed by his entire team at Red Bull, surpassed the Monegasque to take P1 in the WDC charts. Now, he is clinging on to his second place with zero point advantage over Sergio Perez, walking into the Abu Dhabi GP.
On the other hand, Sergio Perez has successfully equalled his points with Charles Leclerc before the Abu Dhabi GP. The Mexican has been instrumental in getting Max Verstappen both his Championships, and now, it is his time to put up a great fight and capture the second spot over Leclerc. And he just stepped up his game with a P2 starting position, just ahead of his competitor from Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc admits the fight with Sergio Perez for the second spot will be a tight one
After claiming the third spot in the Abu Dhabi GP starting grid, Charles Leclerc did not seem too happy with his performance. This is because the Monegasque got bested by Sergio Perez, who captured a front row start in the capital.
Reflecting on his Quali experience, Leclerc said, “I locked up in turn 6/7, but it’s the place we deserve today. The Red Bulls were stronger but we are still in quite a good position for tomorrow. It’s going to be close with Checo for sure. So it’s going to be tricky, but we are going to give it all and hopefully get that second place in the drivers and constructors championship.”
Meanwhile Sergio Perez seemed hungry for more during his post-Quali interview, as he gave an account of how he missed out on the pole position in Abu Dhabi. He said, “It’s a good starting position. I just didn’t make that final step in Q3. Q3 run 1 wasn’t that good. Looking forward to tomorrow on a day that really matters. I hope that we can have a strong race.”
With almost similar reactions from both Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc, it is obvious that the two have their eyes set on the same goal–the second spot in the Drivers’ Championship. And it only remains to be seen which one of them finally comes out victorious and takes the trophy for being the “best of the rest” on the grid.
