A fairytale? No, that is the Ferrari that wins. Legendary! For the third yr in a row, the 499P has gained the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Up to now two years with the official “crimson” vehicles and this time with the “yellow” one, the client automobile from AF Corse. Whoever says it’s inconceivable to construct a successful Italian workforce is totally incorrect: Antonello Coletta’s workers have confirmed it. 4 races within the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, 4 victories.
The Prancing Horse, by way of its dominance at Le Mans, has primarily secured the Endurance world title, contemplating its 202 factors versus Toyota’s 91 and Porsche’s 80. Within the 2025 season a double Method 1 title was anticipated, specifically the Drivers and Constructors championships, however as an alternative, the satisfaction is coming from the World Endurance Championship squad, which proves to be robust, extremely organized, and united.
President John Elkann and chief govt officer Benedetto Vigna selected to go to Le Mans relatively than Canada, the place vice chairman Piero Ferrari was current to characterize the model. A divergence that explains the state of affairs greater than any phrases may. It’s as if there are two Ferrari worlds inside Maranello: the shedding one in Method 1 and the successful one in World Endurance Championship. And the highest administration has clearly chosen sides, preferring to applaud sports activities vehicles relatively than single-seaters.
The Italian press has been accused of launching a harsh assault on workforce principal Frederic Vasseur earlier than the Canadian Grand Prix spherical in Montreal: it’s mentioned that the continued lack of outcomes, after the hope of championships, may result in a non-renewal of the workforce principal’s contract, which expires on the finish of the 2025 Method 1 season. Frederic Vasseur responded with frustration, blaming these journalists who he claimed want hurt upon Ferrari. The Frenchman requested the drivers to shut ranks, and each Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc made themselves out there to current a picture of unity.
Frederic Vasseur mentioned he was not a lot fearful about his personal place , stating that there’s loads of time to debate the renewal, however relatively concerning the assaults on his workforce members, who’ve households, wives, and youngsters, and who could possibly be destabilized by criticism after all of the onerous work accomplished to construct a functioning system. Which may be true, however the doubts have arisen as a result of the “Napoleon of Draveil” not enjoys the complete assist of the John Elkann-Benedetto Vigna duo.
A single assertion from possession would have been sufficient to revive confidence in a supervisor who, three years in the past, was handed the keys to the Sporting Division and given a clean slate to construct the Racing Division in his personal picture.
“At the moment is a superb victory for Ferrari,” mentioned John Elkann, “for everybody who works right here, for all its sides. Ferrari has gained by working collectively, exhibiting how unity results in extraordinary outcomes. Le Mans is a particular second for individuals who love motorsport, and what has been achieved borders on the heroic. Over the previous three years, three totally different vehicles and 9 drivers have proven what teamwork means. I thank everybody at Ferrari: successful Le Mans thrice in a row is a historic achievement that makes us proud and honors our founder, Enzo Ferrari.”
Not a single point out of Method 1, solely a deafening silence that fuels rumors and lends weight to the concept that the media protection was not exaggerated, as somebody on TV tried to recommend, however relatively the results of well-founded evaluation. The SF-25 is a flawed automobile, and the modifications wanted to repair this tough season are gradual in coming. In different phrases, there are few concepts and they’re confused.
All this, whereas on the opposite facet of the street, success retains arriving. 1,500 individuals are not sufficient to construct two successful single-seaters, however 150 are sufficient to dominate the Hypercar class. In fact, the commitments and budgets are vastly totally different, however the distinction is putting—as a result of the corporate is identical.
Method 1 loses, the World Endurance Championship wins. True, you’ll be able to’t examine apples and oranges, however the firm’s DNA must be constant. Now Antonello Coletta is being pulled within the route of reorganizing the Sporting Division. The Italian supervisor sees a transfer to the Method 1 division as a nightmare and needs to stay within the fortress he has expertly constructed, preferring that Frederic Vasseur proceed the work he started.
The solutions, subsequently, don’t rely on the Italian media however on Ferrari’s high administration, who for now desire to stay silent.
The fairytale? It’s the story of Robert Kubica, the Polish ace who took Chinese language driver Ye Yifei and British rookie Phil Hanson by the hand to carry them to the highest step at Le Mans. He had seen the crimson dream vanish in 2012, when he ought to have raced in Method 1 and by no means turned an official Ferrari driver. Now he has challenged the 499Ps “50” and “51,” tormenting the crimson vehicles with a race tempo that was merely an excessive amount of for others to deal with, regardless of driving virtually with one hand. A masterclass that erases any handicap with ardour, talent, data, and pace. The 40-year-old from Krakow has proven what it actually means to #BeFerrari. And a few ought to take word.
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