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—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: “Now we have extra expertise”
“I’m very blissful to be again right here at Le Mans; it’s a particular race and a particular observe. 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 yr the #51 completed on the rostrum.
They’re good reminiscences, however I do know will probably be troublesome [to repeat that], for a lot of causes—Le Mans is an extended race. However I believe we began the championship fairly effectively this yr 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 probably be essential.”
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 automobile. However now now we have extra expertise with the automobile, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher find out how to work and I believe that’s the important thing to why we began fairly effectively 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 to date, as Antonio mentioned, it’s been a very good begin to the season and the automobile is absolutely robust. So we hope to deliver 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 believe this yr may very well be essentially the most troublesome ever.”
The main target 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—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 arduous, 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 actually, they clearly know we’re robust. Throughout the season we’ve been robust, so 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 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 essentially 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 desirous about the championship. To remain forward, now we have to work arduous 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 will probably be plenty 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 maintain successful, we’re having enjoyable. Now we have a very good relationship, even off observe. 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 believe it’s an additional enhance to enhance, as a result of when somebody that effectively, 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: “Now we have an awesome 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 throughout the third-to-last cease that allowed the #50 to win:
“If we might, we’d attempt to end a number of laps forward of the others! So no, we’re not attempting to create any type of present for the followers, sadly.
However , as I mentioned, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks as if that’s all the time how now we have to win.”
After a yr, 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 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 wonderful. And it’s greater than a workforce—it’s a household. After all we race towards the sister automobiles on observe, however all of us six have an awesome 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 robust race. Once 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 every part. It was a particular second. Typically we got here very near successful this race. Once 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 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 approach. We all the time attempt to do our job. The System 1 guys are additionally attempting to do their job.
So, generally, we’re attempting to make folks blissful.”
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, 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 will struggle within the race.
However often, in the event you don’t make Hyperpole, it means the race will probably be arduous too. So we attempt to do our greatest after which we’ll see.
Because the others mentioned, something can occur. For positive if one of many two automobiles 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 will probably be actually robust. Perhaps even harder than the previous two years. And we simply should attempt to do our greatest and maximize the consequence.”
Kubica: “The largest 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 it’s #83’s flip? Workforce 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 huge problem, to achieve the top 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 attainable.
I don’t anticipate a simple life from our competitors. So will probably be one of many largest challenges—clearly not simply of the yr, however most likely 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 constructive. It was actually totally different from what I used to be used to final yr with the Porsche.
I used to be pleasantly shocked by how the automobile has carried out within the final races. However sure, it’s a really totally different driving fashion from the Porsche. So it took a little bit of getting used to at first.
However there are a lot of benefits I see in it. However inherently, it’s a really totally different automobile 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 probably 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 after 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, 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 rivals are very near us. So will probably be very robust, as Robert and Phil mentioned.
However we’ll give it every part now we have 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 now we have to be trustworthy. And now we have to remain centered till the top of the race. It is going to be robust—possibly rain will come like final yr.
It’ll be thrilling for you, the spectators.”
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