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 glad 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 it is going to be tough [to repeat that], for a lot of causes—Le Mans is a protracted race. However I believe we began the championship fairly properly this yr 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 might 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 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 we now have extra expertise with the automobile, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher work and I believe that’s the important thing to why we began fairly properly 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 thus far, as Antonio stated, it’s been a great begin to the season and the automobile is basically sturdy. So we hope to carry 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 could possibly be probably the most tough 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 superb engineer and we are able to solely reward him. He works laborious, and we now have an important 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 sturdy. Through the season we’ve been sturdy, so that they’re undoubtedly pushing to beat us. However on the identical time, we’re working laborious 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 total, and we’ll attempt to do it once more, however we’re additionally eager about the championship. To remain forward, we now have to work laborious 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 sturdy and there might be a whole lot 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, courting again to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“So long as we preserve successful, we’re having enjoyable. We have now a great 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 increase to enhance, as a result of when you understand somebody that properly, you understand what they want, what they need. Typically we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s constructive for our crew.”
Nielsen: “We have now an important 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 might, we’d attempt to end just a few laps forward of the others! So no, we’re not attempting to create any form of present for the followers, sadly.
However you understand, as I stated, with this race, so many issues occur, and it looks like that’s all the time how we now 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 in addition to do it total 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 crew like that is wonderful. And it’s greater than a crew—it’s a household. After all we race towards the sister automobiles on observe, however all of us six have an important relationship. That’s additionally what’s actually particular about this crew.”
Molina: “Followers aren’t stress”
For Molina, final yr’s version was additionally unforgettable:
“Le Mans is a particular and really powerful race. While you’re in a race like this, the place you combat actually laborious, feelings construct.
As quickly as we noticed Nicolas cross the end line, it was like an explosion of every little thing. It was a particular second. Typically we got here very near successful this race. While 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 believe we prefer it that method. 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 glad.”
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 report, 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 ultimately. So even when we don’t make Hyperpole, I’ll be happier if we are able to combat within the race.
However normally, if you happen to don’t make Hyperpole, it means the race might be laborious 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 combat for the win, it’s good for the crew, for the constructors’ championship and in addition for the drivers’ championship.
However we additionally know this yr might be actually powerful. Perhaps 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 or not it’s #83’s flip? Staff veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that method:
“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 achieve the top and much more so to win. So initially we want to verify we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as potential.
I don’t anticipate a simple life from our competitors. So it is going to be one of many largest 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 may also 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 model 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 wanting 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 might 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 acquired my driver’s license. So [for me] it’s nearly a house race.
And from a sporting perspective, racing right here with Ferrari, preventing 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 is going to be very powerful, as Robert and Phil stated.
However we’ll give it every little thing we now 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 we now have to be sincere. And we now 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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