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 now have extra expertise”
“I’m very completely happy 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 it will likely be tough [to repeat that], for a lot of causes—Le Mans is a protracted race. However I feel we began the championship fairly properly this 12 months 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 will likely be vital.”
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 feel it’s expertise. The primary 12 months was our first season on this championship with this automotive. However now we have now extra expertise with the automotive, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher the best way to work and I feel that’s the important thing to why we began fairly properly 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 mentioned, it’s been a very good begin to the season and the automotive is de facto robust. So we hope to convey that strategy [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 feel this 12 months could possibly be probably the most tough ever.”
The main focus 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 wonderful engineer and we will solely reward him. He works exhausting, and we have now an amazing 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, in order that they’re positively pushing to beat us. However on the identical time, we’re working exhausting to enhance. We will’t cease working and we’ll do our greatest to proceed this crew efficiency and goal 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 general, and we’ll attempt to do it once more, however we’re additionally serious about the championship. To remain forward, we have now to work exhausting till the tip of the season, and that’s what we did over the winter and in the beginning of the season.
We all know the others are robust and there will likely 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, relationship again to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“So long as we hold profitable, we’re having enjoyable. We now have a very good 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 feel it’s an additional increase to enhance, as a result of when you already know somebody that properly, you already know what they want, what they need. Generally we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s constructive for our crew.”
Nielsen: “We now have an amazing 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 concern 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 making an attempt to create any form of present for the followers, sadly.
However you already know, as I mentioned, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks like that’s all the time how we have now to win.”
After a 12 months, 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 massive dream since we began racing in endurance. To win Le Mans—but additionally to do it general 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 superb. And it’s greater than a crew—it’s a household. After all we race in opposition to the sister vehicles on monitor, however all of us six have an amazing 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. If you’re in a race like this, the place you combat actually exhausting, feelings construct.
As quickly as we noticed Nicolas cross the end line, it was like an explosion of every thing. It was a particular second. Generally we got here very near profitable this race. If 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 more durable 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 System 1 guys are additionally making an attempt to do their job.
So, generally, we’re making an attempt to make individuals completely happy.”
Fuoco: “Higher to combat 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 document, isn’t on the prime of the Calabrian driver’s targets:
“I imply, probably not. 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 will combat within the race.
However often, should 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 mentioned, something can occur. For certain if one of many two vehicles manages to combat for the win, it’s good for the crew, for the constructors’ championship and likewise 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 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? Staff veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that means:
“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 huge problem, to succeed in the tip and much more so to win. So to begin with we’d like to ensure we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as potential.
I don’t count on a simple life from our competitors. So it will likely be one of many greatest challenges—clearly not simply of the 12 months, however in all probability of my profession.”
Phil Hanson: “Stunned by the 499P”
Philip Hanson’s ninth Le Mans will even be his first with the Ferrari 499P:
“My first response was very constructive. It was actually completely different from what I used to be used to final 12 months with the Porsche.
I used to be pleasantly shocked 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 various 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 feel these vehicles 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 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 related to.
I got here right here after I was 14. It’s been 11 years now. I discovered to talk French right here and likewise acquired my driver’s license. So [for me] it’s nearly a house race.
And from a sporting perspective, racing right here with Ferrari, combating 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 opponents are very near us. So it will likely be very robust, as Robert and Phil mentioned.
However we’ll give it every thing we have now 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 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 trustworthy. And we have now to remain targeted till the tip of the race. It will likely be robust—possibly rain will come like final 12 months.
It’ll be thrilling for you, the spectators.”
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