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—though 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 pleased 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 recollections, 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 nicely this yr with three wins and two for the #51. So clearly the objective 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 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 now we have extra expertise with the automotive, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher how one can 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 all the time the one which decides who fights for the championship. However up to now, as Antonio stated, it’s been a great begin to the season and the automotive is actually robust. So we hope to convey that method [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 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 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 arduous, and now we have an ideal 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, in order that they’re undoubtedly pushing to beat us. However on the similar time, we’re working arduous to enhance. We will’t cease working and we’ll do our greatest to proceed this workforce efficiency and purpose 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 serious 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 preserve profitable, we’re having enjoyable. We now have a great 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 increase to enhance, as a result of when you already know somebody that nicely, you already know what they want, what they need. Generally we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s optimistic for our workforce.”
Nielsen: “We now have an ideal 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 situation throughout the third-to-last cease that allowed the #50 to win:
“If we may, we’d attempt to end a couple of laps forward of the others! So no, we’re not attempting to create any type of present for the followers, sadly.
However you already know, as I stated, 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 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 additionally 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 automobiles on observe, however all of us six have an ideal relationship. That’s additionally what’s actually particular about this workforce.”
Molina: “Followers aren’t strain”
For Molina, final yr’s version was additionally unforgettable:
“Le Mans is a particular and really powerful race. Once you’re in a race like this, the place you battle actually arduous, feelings construct.
As quickly as we noticed Nicolas cross the end line, it was like an explosion of the whole lot. It was a particular second. Generally we got here very near profitable this race. Once you attain a objective 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’ strain isn’t actual strain.
The eagerness the Italian followers put into Ferrari is unimaginable. It makes us work more durable and attempt to give again all that vitality. I wouldn’t name it strain.
I believe we prefer it that means. We all the time attempt to do our job. The System 1 guys are additionally attempting to do their job.
So, basically, we’re attempting to make individuals pleased.”
Fuoco: “Higher to battle 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 targets:
“I imply, not likely. 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 are able to battle within the race.
However normally, in case 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 stated, something can occur. For positive if one of many two automobiles manages to battle 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 powerful. Possibly even harder than the previous two years. And we simply must 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 or not it’s #83’s flip? Crew veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that means:
“It’s a bit simplistic to place it like that. […] It’ll be an enormous 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 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 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: “Shocked by the 499P”
Philip Hanson’s ninth Le Mans may 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 stunned by how the automotive has carried out within the final races. However sure, it’s a really completely different driving fashion 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 believe these automobiles 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 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 once I was 14. It’s been 11 years now. I discovered 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 rivals are very near us. So will probably be very powerful, as Robert and Phil stated.
However we’ll give it the whole lot now we have 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 now we have to be sincere. And now we have to remain targeted till the top of the race. Will probably be powerful—possibly rain will come like final yr.
It’ll be thrilling for you, the spectators.”
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