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—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 have now extra expertise”
“I’m very completely happy 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 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 purpose is to win once more, but when not, scoring factors for the championship will likely be necessary.”
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 significantly 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 the right way 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 provides double factors, so it’s all the time the one which decides who fights for the championship. However to date, as Antonio stated, it’s been an excellent begin to the season and the automotive is de facto 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 stated, we’ve had good outcomes the previous two years, however I believe this yr might 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 in recent times 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 superb engineer and we are able to solely reward him. He works exhausting, and we’ve a fantastic 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. Through the season we’ve been robust, so that they’re undoubtedly pushing to beat us. However on the similar time, we’re working exhausting to enhance. We are able to’t cease working and we’ll do our greatest to proceed this staff 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 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 by the championship. To remain forward, we’ve to work exhausting till the top 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 number 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 collection, relationship again to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“So long as we maintain successful, we’re having enjoyable. We have now an excellent relationship, even off observe. Since I joined Ferrari, I’ve been paired with James, and we’ve constructed a powerful bond within the automotive and out of it.
I believe it’s an additional increase to enhance, as a result of when you realize somebody that nicely, you realize what they want, what they need. Generally we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s optimistic for our staff.”
Nielsen: “We have now a fantastic 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 difficulty through the third-to-last cease that allowed the #50 to win:
“If we might, we’d attempt to end a couple of laps forward of the others! So no, we’re not making an attempt to create any sort of present for the followers, sadly.
However you realize, as I stated, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks as if that’s all the time how we’ve to win.”
After a yr, there was additionally time to mirror on the previous victory:
“It was superb. 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 automotive—two [wins] in a row for Ferrari. Being a part of a staff like that is superb. And it’s greater than a staff—it’s a household. After all we race towards the sister vehicles on observe, however all of us six have a fantastic relationship. That’s additionally what’s actually particular about this staff.”
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 combat actually exhausting, 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. Generally we got here very near successful this race. Whenever 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 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 believe we prefer it that approach. We all the time attempt to do our job. The Formulation 1 guys are additionally making an attempt to do their job.
So, generally, we’re making an attempt to make folks completely happy.”
Fuoco: “Higher to combat 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 file, isn’t on the high of the Calabrian driver’s objectives:
“I imply, probably not. 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 combat within the race.
However often, for those who 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 stated, something can occur. For certain if one of many two vehicles manages to combat for the win, it’s good for the staff, for the constructors’ championship and in addition for the drivers’ championship.
However we additionally know this yr will likely be actually powerful. Possibly even harder than the previous two years. And we simply need to attempt to do our greatest and maximize the end result.”
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 it’s #83’s flip? Group 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 succeed in the top and much more so to win. So to start with we’d like to ensure we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as doable.
I don’t anticipate a straightforward life from our competitors. So will probably be one of many greatest challenges—clearly not simply of the yr, however most likely of my profession.”
Phil Hanson: “Shocked by the 499P”
Philip Hanson’s ninth Le Mans will even be his first with the Ferrari 499P:
“My first response was very optimistic. It was actually completely different from what I used to be used to final yr 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 model 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 completely 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 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 realized to talk French right here and in addition obtained 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 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 stated.
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 realized 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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