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—regardless 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’ve extra expertise”
“I’m very glad to be again right here at Le Mans; it’s a particular race and a particular observe. It’s at all times 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 yr 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 nicely 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 can be vital.”
On the query of why the #51, which didn’t win a single race in 2024, has already received two this yr, a joking comment got here from the opposite crew:
[Nielsen off-stage:] “As a result of [Giovinazzi, ed.] is a lot better this yr.”
—“I belief my teammates. I believe it’s expertise. The primary yr was our first season on this championship with this automotive. However now we’ve extra expertise with the automotive, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher methods to work and I believe that’s the important thing to why we began fairly nicely this yr with three wins already.”
Calado: “We’re working to enhance”
“This race offers double factors, so it’s at all times the one which decides who fights for the championship. However to this point, as Antonio mentioned, it’s been a very good begin to the season and the automotive is absolutely robust. 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 mentioned, we’ve had good outcomes the previous two years, however I believe this yr may very well be essentially 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 in recent times we at all times 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 wonderful engineer and we are able to solely reward him. He works onerous, and we’ve an excellent 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 robust. In the course of the season we’ve been robust, so that they’re positively pushing to beat us. However on the identical time, we’re working onerous to enhance. We will’t cease working and we’ll do our greatest to proceed this workforce 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 essentially the most particular race.
Everybody needs 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 interested by the championship. To remain forward, we’ve to work onerous till the top of the season, and that’s what we did over the winter and initially of the season.
We all know the others are robust and there can be a variety 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 preserve successful, we’re having enjoyable. We’ve a very good relationship, even off observe. 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 enhance to enhance, as a result of when you realize somebody that nicely, you realize what they want, what they need. Typically we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s constructive for our workforce.”
Nielsen: “We’ve an excellent 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 subject through the third-to-last cease that allowed the #50 to win:
“If we may, we’d attempt to end a number of laps forward of the others! So no, we’re not attempting to create any form of present for the followers, sadly.
However you realize, as I mentioned, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks as if that’s at all times how we’ve to win.”
After a yr, there was additionally time to replicate 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 yr after the sister automotive—two [wins] in a row for Ferrari. Being a part of a workforce like that is wonderful. And it’s greater than a workforce—it’s a household. In fact we race in opposition to the sister vehicles on observe, however all of us six have an excellent 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 onerous, feelings construct.
As quickly as we noticed Nicolas cross the end line, it was like an explosion of all the pieces. It was a particular second. Typically 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 fervour the Italian followers put into Ferrari is unbelievable. It makes us work tougher and attempt to give again all that vitality. I wouldn’t name it stress.
I believe we prefer it that manner. We at all times attempt to do our job. The Formulation 1 guys are additionally attempting to do their job.
So, normally, we’re attempting to make folks glad.”
Fuoco: “Higher to struggle within the race than for Hyperpole”
Antonio Fuoco returned to pole place within the latest 6 Hours of Spa, however the Hyperpole at Le Mans, which he received in 2022 with a Hypercar document, isn’t on the high of the Calabrian driver’s targets:
“I imply, not likely. 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 often, in case you don’t make Hyperpole, it means the race can be onerous too. So we attempt to do our greatest after which we’ll see.
Because the others mentioned, something can occur. For certain if one of many two vehicles manages to struggle for the win, it’s good for the workforce, for the constructors’ championship and in addition for the drivers’ championship.
However we additionally know this yr can be actually powerful. Perhaps even harder than the previous two years. And we simply should attempt to do our greatest and maximize the consequence.”
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 or not it’s #83’s flip? Workforce veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that manner:
“It’s a bit simplistic to place it like that. […] It’ll be an enormous problem—as at all times, Le Mans is a really massive problem, to achieve the top and much more so to win. So to start with we’d like to verify we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as attainable.
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 yr, however in all probability of my profession.”
Phil Hanson: “Stunned by the 499P”
Philip Hanson’s ninth Le Mans may also be his first with the Ferrari 499P:
“My first response was very constructive. 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 automotive has carried out within the final races. However sure, it’s a really totally different driving type from the Porsche. So it took a little bit of getting used to at first.
However there are lots of benefits I see in it. However inherently, it’s a really totally different automotive to drive. I’m trying ahead to seeing the way it feels at Le Mans.
I believe these vehicles are designed for Le Mans, so they need to really feel of their greatest 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 can be his fifth Le Mans, the second with Ferrari, and for the Xi’an-born driver—welcomed warmly by followers—that is at all times 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 discovered to talk French right here and in addition bought 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 unbelievable honor. We’ve seen that Ferrari performs nicely; we managed to win the primary three races. However we additionally know the opponents are very near us. So will probably be very powerful, as Robert and Phil mentioned.
However we’ll give it all the pieces we’ve 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 automotive 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’ve to be sincere. And we’ve to remain centered till the top of the race. It will likely be powerful—possibly rain will come like final yr.
It’ll be thrilling for you, the spectators.”
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