After two consecutive wins on the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a powerful begin within the WEC with three straight victories, the general public sees Ferrari as the favourite—though the drivers don’t essentially agree, as they shared from the stage throughout yesterday’s Pesage, moderated by official presenter Bruno Vandestick.
Giovinazzi: “Now we have extra expertise”
“I’m very joyful 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 gained two years in the past and final yr the #51 completed on the rostrum.
They’re good reminiscences, however I do know it is going to be troublesome [to repeat that], for a lot of causes—Le Mans is an extended race. However I feel we began the championship fairly properly this yr with three wins and two for the #51. So clearly the aim is to win once more, but when not, scoring factors for the championship shall be necessary.”
On the query of why the #51, which didn’t win a single race in 2024, has already gained two this yr, a joking comment got here from the opposite crew:
[Nielsen off-stage:] “As a result of [Giovinazzi, ed.] is significantly better this yr.”
—“I belief my teammates. I feel it’s expertise. The primary yr was our first season on this championship with this automobile. However now we have now extra expertise with the automobile, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher how one can work and I feel that’s the important thing to why we began fairly properly this yr with three wins already.”
Calado: “We’re working to enhance”
“This race offers double factors, so it’s all the time the one which decides who fights for the championship. However thus far, as Antonio stated, it’s been a superb begin to the season and the automobile is actually sturdy. So we hope to carry 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 feel this yr may very well be probably the most troublesome ever.”
The main focus then shifted to the #51 race engineer, Baptiste Allain, who returns for a second yr 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—perhaps 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 arduous, and we have now an incredible 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 actually, they clearly know we’re sturdy. Through the season we’ve been sturdy, in order that they’re positively pushing to beat us. However on the identical time, we’re working arduous to enhance. We will’t cease working and we’ll do our greatest to proceed this workforce efficiency and purpose 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 needs to win Le Mans. We’ve been fortunate sufficient to win it as soon as already general, and we’ll attempt to do it once more, however we’re additionally fascinated about the championship. To remain forward, we have now to work arduous till the tip of the season, and that’s what we did over the winter and at first of the season.
We all know the others are sturdy and there shall be loads of 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 sequence, courting again to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“So long as we maintain successful, we’re having enjoyable. Now we have a superb relationship, even off monitor. Since I joined Ferrari, I’ve been paired with James, and we’ve constructed a powerful bond within the automobile and out of it.
I feel it’s an additional enhance to enhance, as a result of when you recognize somebody that properly, you recognize what they want, what they need. Generally we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s optimistic for our workforce.”
Nielsen: “Now we have an incredible relationship”
The star of the ultimate hours of final yr’s Le Mans was clearly Nicklas Nielsen, who accomplished two energy-saving stints within the rain, compensating for a door situation through 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 recognize, as I stated, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks as if that’s all the time how we have now to win.”
After a yr, there was additionally time to mirror on the previous victory:
“It was superb. I imply, I feel 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 general in Hypercar and with Ferrari. And for us it was actually nice to win the yr after the sister automobile—two [wins] in a row for Ferrari. Being a part of a workforce like that is superb. And it’s greater than a workforce—it’s a household. After all we race towards the sister automobiles on monitor, however all of us six have an incredible relationship. That’s additionally what’s actually particular about this workforce.”
Molina: “Followers aren’t stress”
For Molina, final yr’s version was additionally unforgettable:
“Le Mans is a particular and really powerful race. Whenever you’re in a race like this, the place you struggle actually arduous, feelings construct.
As quickly as we noticed Nicolas cross the end line, it was like an explosion of all the things. It was a particular second. Generally we got here very near successful this race. Whenever you attain a aim 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 unimaginable. It makes us work tougher and attempt to give again all that power. I wouldn’t name it stress.
I feel we prefer it that means. We all the time attempt to do our job. The Components 1 guys are additionally attempting to do their job.
So, typically, we’re attempting to make individuals joyful.”
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 gained in 2022 with a Hypercar document, isn’t on the high of the Calabrian driver’s objectives:
“I imply, not likely. Within the race, that’s the place the factors are ultimately. So even when we don’t make Hyperpole, I’ll be happier if we are able to struggle within the race.
However often, should you don’t make Hyperpole, it means the race shall be arduous 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 workforce, for the constructors’ championship and likewise for the drivers’ championship.
However we additionally know this yr shall be actually powerful. Possibly even more durable than the previous two years. And we simply need to attempt to do our greatest and maximize the outcome.”
Kubica: “The most important problem of my profession”
The Ferrari #83 AF Corse, the “huge 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 or not it’s #83’s flip? Crew veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that means:
“It’s a bit simplistic to place it like that. […] It’ll be an enormous problem—as all the time, Le Mans is a really huge problem, to achieve the tip and much more so to win. So to begin with we want to verify we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as attainable.
I don’t count on a simple life from our competitors. So it is going to be one of many greatest challenges—clearly not simply of the yr, however in all probability of my profession.”
Phil Hanson: “Stunned by the 499P”
Philip Hanson’s ninth Le Mans may even be his first with the Ferrari 499P:
“My first response was very optimistic. It was actually totally different from what I used to be used to final yr with the Porsche.
I used to be pleasantly stunned by how the automobile has carried out within the final races. However sure, it’s a really totally different driving model from the Porsche. So it took a little bit of getting used to at first.
However there are various benefits I see in it. However inherently, it’s a really totally different automobile to drive. I’m wanting ahead to seeing the way it feels at Le Mans.
I feel these automobiles are designed for Le Mans, so they need to really feel of their greatest window right here. And I feel that’s the expertise I’m most excited for tomorrow.”
Yifei Ye, the house driver
For Ye Yifei, this shall 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 related to.
I got here right here once I was 14. It’s been 11 years now. I discovered to talk French right here and likewise received my driver’s license. So [for me] it’s nearly a house race.
And from a sporting perspective, racing right here with Ferrari, preventing for the win, is an unimaginable honor. We’ve seen that Ferrari performs properly; we managed to win the primary three races. However we additionally know the rivals are very near us. So it is going to be very powerful, as Robert and Phil stated.
However we’ll give it all the things we have now and see the way it goes.”
Each Ye and Kubica got here very near successful LMP2 in 2021, when a throttle failure on the WRT #41 dashed their hopes simply 12 km from the end:
“The automobile is able to successful. However I already discovered in 2021 with Robert that even when we’re main the race on the final lap, one thing can occur and cease us. So we have now to be sincere. And we have now to remain targeted till the tip of the race. Will probably be powerful—perhaps rain will come like final yr.
It’ll be thrilling for you, the spectators.”
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