After two consecutive wins on the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a robust begin within the WEC with three straight victories, the general public sees Ferrari as the favourite—despite the fact that the drivers don’t essentially agree, as they shared from the stage throughout yesterday’s Pesage, moderated by official presenter Bruno Vandestick.
Giovinazzi: “We now have extra expertise”
“I’m very comfortable to be again right here at Le Mans; it’s a particular race and a particular monitor. It’s all the time nice to race right here. The final two years have been nice for Ferrari [and for us]; we received two years in the past and final 12 months the #51 completed on the rostrum.
They’re good recollections, however I do know will probably be troublesome [to repeat that], for a lot of causes—Le Mans is a protracted race. However I believe we began the championship fairly effectively this 12 months with three wins and two for the #51. So clearly the purpose is to win once more, but when not, scoring factors for the championship will likely be necessary.”
On the query of why the #51, which didn’t win a single race in 2024, has already received two this 12 months, a joking comment got here from the opposite crew:
[Nielsen off-stage:] “As a result of [Giovinazzi, ed.] is significantly better this 12 months.”
—“I belief my teammates. I believe it’s expertise. The primary 12 months was our first season on this championship with this automotive. However now now we have extra expertise with the automotive, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher learn how to work and I believe that’s the important thing to why we began fairly effectively this 12 months with three wins already.”
Calado: “We’re working to enhance”
“This race provides double factors, so it’s all the time the one which decides who fights for the championship. However to date, as Antonio stated, it’s been begin to the season and the automotive is de facto sturdy. So we hope to deliver that method [also] into this race, however as we all know, something can occur.
However we’re doing our greatest, and as you stated, we’ve had good outcomes the previous two years, however I believe this 12 months may very well be probably the most troublesome ever.”
The main target then shifted to the #51 race engineer, Baptiste Allain, who returns for a second 12 months in a row.
“He’s actually French. [everyone laughs] No, however he’s nice, and everybody asks us about it, as a result of lately we all the time modified engineers—possibly it was our fault, I don’t know. Baptiste has stayed the final two years and actually helped us, he’s a superb engineer and we are able to solely reward him. He works exhausting, and now we have an awesome relationship.”
When requested if historical past will repeat itself, with new producers like Ford pushing to beat Ferrari:
“I don’t know. Others are doing their job, we’re doing ours—and truthfully, they clearly know we’re sturdy. In the course of the season we’ve been sturdy, in order that they’re undoubtedly pushing to beat us. However on the identical time, we’re working exhausting to enhance. We are able to’t cease working and we’ll do our greatest to proceed this crew efficiency and intention for extra victories.”
Pier Guidi: “The season has simply began”
The mic then went to Alessandro Pier Guidi, who was requested the way it feels to reach right here main the standings. The #51 is eighteen factors forward of #50, 36 forward of #83, and 38 forward of Toyota #8.
“I don’t really feel just like the ‘King’; the season has simply began. We’re at Le Mans, which is probably the most particular race.
Everybody desires to win Le Mans. We’ve been fortunate sufficient to win it as soon as already total, and we’ll attempt to do it once more, however we’re additionally enthusiastic about the championship. To remain forward, now we have to work exhausting till the tip of the season, and that’s what we did over the winter and at the beginning of the season.
We all know the others are sturdy and there will likely be numerous competitors, particularly right here at Le Mans.”
A fan then requested a sarcastic query: “Aren’t you bored of being paired with Calado for 8 years?” The 2 have one of many longest-standing partnerships within the collection, relationship again to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“So long as we preserve profitable, we’re having enjoyable. We now have relationship, even off monitor. Since I joined Ferrari, I’ve been paired with James, and we’ve constructed a robust bond within the automotive and out of it.
I believe it’s an additional increase to enhance, as a result of when you understand somebody that effectively, you understand what they want, what they need. Generally we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s optimistic for our crew.”
Nielsen: “We now have an awesome relationship”
The star of the ultimate hours of final 12 months’s Le Mans was clearly Nicklas Nielsen, who accomplished two energy-saving stints within the rain, compensating for a door problem in the course of the third-to-last cease that allowed the #50 to win:
“If we may, we’d attempt to end just a few laps forward of the others! So no, we’re not attempting to create any type of present for the followers, sadly.
However you understand, as I stated, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks like that’s all the time how now we have to win.”
After a 12 months, there was additionally time to mirror on the previous victory:
“It was wonderful. I imply, I believe for all three of us, it was the large dream since we began racing in endurance. To win Le Mans—but in addition to do it total in Hypercar and with Ferrari. And for us it was actually nice to win the 12 months after the sister automotive—two [wins] in a row for Ferrari. Being a part of a crew like that is wonderful. And it’s greater than a crew—it’s a household. In fact we race in opposition to the sister automobiles on monitor, however all of us six have an awesome relationship. That’s additionally what’s actually particular about this crew.”
Molina: “Followers aren’t stress”
For Molina, final 12 months’s version was additionally unforgettable:
“Le Mans is a particular and really robust race. Whenever you’re in a race like this, the place you struggle actually exhausting, feelings construct.
As quickly as we noticed Nicolas cross the end line, it was like an explosion of every part. It was a particular second. Generally we got here very near profitable this race. Whenever you attain a purpose like this, it’s very emotional. All of the work behind it and all of the sacrifices you make in your profession, they repay.”
“I’d say the followers’ stress isn’t actual stress.
The eagerness the Italian followers put into Ferrari is unbelievable. It makes us work tougher and attempt to give again all that power. I wouldn’t name it stress.
I believe we prefer it that approach. We all the time attempt to do our job. The Formulation 1 guys are additionally attempting to do their job.
So, generally, we’re attempting to make individuals comfortable.”
Fuoco: “Higher to struggle within the race than for Hyperpole”
Antonio Fuoco returned to pole place within the current 6 Hours of Spa, however the Hyperpole at Le Mans, which he received in 2022 with a Hypercar report, isn’t on the high of the Calabrian driver’s objectives:
“I imply, probably not. Within the race, that’s the place the factors are in the long run. So even when we don’t make Hyperpole, I’ll be happier if we are able to struggle within the race.
However normally, when you don’t make Hyperpole, it means the race will likely be exhausting too. So we attempt to do our greatest after which we’ll see.
Because the others stated, something can occur. For certain if one of many two automobiles manages to struggle for the win, it’s good for the crew, for the constructors’ championship and in addition for the drivers’ championship.
However we additionally know this 12 months will likely be actually robust. Perhaps even more durable than the previous two years. And we simply should attempt to do our greatest and maximize the outcome.”
Kubica: “The most important problem of my profession”
The Ferrari #83 AF Corse, the “massive yellow one”, appeared with a yellow submarine on the roof—a transparent reference to the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.” However after wins for the #50 and #51, will it’s #83’s flip? Group veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that approach:
“It’s a bit simplistic to place it like that. […] It’ll be a giant problem—as all the time, Le Mans is a really massive problem, to succeed in the tip and much more so to win. So to start with we want to ensure we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as doable.
I don’t count on a straightforward life from our competitors. So will probably be one of many greatest challenges—clearly not simply of the 12 months, however most likely of my profession.”
Phil Hanson: “Shocked by the 499P”
Philip Hanson’s ninth Le Mans may also be his first with the Ferrari 499P:
“My first response was very optimistic. It was actually completely different from what I used to be used to final 12 months with the Porsche.
I used to be pleasantly stunned by how the automotive has carried out within the final races. However sure, it’s a really completely different driving type from the Porsche. So it took a little bit of getting used to at first.
However there are numerous benefits I see in it. However inherently, it’s a really completely different automotive to drive. I’m trying ahead to seeing the way it feels at Le Mans.
I believe these automobiles are designed for Le Mans, so they need to really feel of their finest window right here. And I believe that’s the expertise I’m most excited for tomorrow.”
Yifei Ye, the house driver
For Ye Yifei, this will likely be his fifth Le Mans, the second with Ferrari, and for the Xi’an-born driver—welcomed warmly by followers—that is all the time a particular race, virtually a house occasion:
“I’m fortunate that the general public loves me. Thanks. Le Mans is a metropolis I’m very linked to.
I got here right here once I was 14. It’s been 11 years now. I realized to talk French right here and in addition acquired my driver’s license. So [for me] it’s virtually a house race.
And from a sporting perspective, racing right here with Ferrari, combating for the win, is an unbelievable honor. We’ve seen that Ferrari performs effectively; we managed to win the primary three races. However we additionally know the opponents are very near us. So will probably be very robust, as Robert and Phil stated.
However we’ll give it every part now we have and see the way it goes.”
Each Ye and Kubica got here very near profitable LMP2 in 2021, when a throttle failure on the WRT #41 dashed their hopes simply 12 km from the end:
“The automotive is able to profitable. However I already realized in 2021 with Robert that even when we’re main the race on the final lap, one thing can occur and cease us. So now we have to be trustworthy. And now we have to remain centered till the tip of the race. It is going to be robust—possibly rain will come like final 12 months.
It’ll be thrilling for you, the spectators.”
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