Ferrari exceeded expectations at the Qatar Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc securing a surprise second-place finish despite track characteristics that didn't suit their car. The result helped narrow McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship to just 21 points.

Leclerc admitted he would have immediately accepted a second-place finish if offered before the race, given Ferrari's expected struggles at the circuit. While Max Verstappen dominated the race ahead of Lando Norris, a penalty for Norris later helped Leclerc secure the podium position ahead of Oscar Piastri.

The Ferrari driver attributed their success to a pragmatic approach: focusing on maximizing their own performance rather than worrying about the gap to their competitors. This strategy proved effective, as Ferrari actually gained points on McLaren despite expectations of losing ground.

The team's performance was particularly noteworthy given that:

• The track characteristics were far from optimal for Ferrari's car
• They entered the weekend expecting to lose points to McLaren
• Carlos Sainz faced unfortunate circumstances with a puncture

Looking ahead, Leclerc acknowledged the need to improve Ferrari's performance on similar tracks, but emphasized the team's strong execution in Qatar. The championship battle with McLaren will continue until the final race in Abu Dhabi.

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