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—although 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 properly 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 vital.”
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 automobile. However now we now have extra expertise with the automobile, with the championship, with our teammates. So we all know higher tips on how to 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 offers 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 superb begin to the season and the automobile is actually robust. So we hope to carry 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 could possibly be essentially the most troublesome ever.”
The main focus 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 will solely reward him. He works laborious, and we now have 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. Through the season we’ve been robust, so that they’re positively 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 intention 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 eager about the championship. To remain forward, we now have to work laborious till the tip of the season, and that’s what we did over the winter and at first 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 collection, courting again to the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
“So long as we preserve profitable, we’re having enjoyable. We now have a superb relationship, even off observe. Since I joined Ferrari, I’ve been paired with James, and we’ve constructed a robust bond within the automobile and out of it.
I believe it’s an additional increase to enhance, as a result of when you realize somebody that properly, you realize what they want, what they need. Typically we don’t even want to talk—we perceive one another, and that’s optimistic for our crew.”
Nielsen: “We now have an amazing 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 concern throughout the third-to-last cease that allowed the #50 to win:
“If we may, we’d attempt to end just a few 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 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 massive 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. In fact we race in opposition to the sister vehicles on observe, however all of us six have an amazing relationship. That’s additionally what’s actually particular about this crew.”
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 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 profitable 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’ strain isn’t actual strain.
The fervour the Italian followers put into Ferrari is unimaginable. It makes us work tougher and attempt to give again all that vitality. I wouldn’t name it strain.
I believe we prefer it that manner. We all the time attempt to do our job. The Formulation 1 guys are additionally making an attempt to do their job.
So, basically, we’re making an attempt to make individuals pleased.”
Fuoco: “Higher to battle 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 prime 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 will battle within the race.
However often, when you don’t make Hyperpole, it means the race will likely be laborious 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 battle 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 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 consequence.”
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? Workforce veteran Robert Kubica doesn’t see it that manner:
“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 tip and much more so to win. So to begin with we want to verify we end, after which we’ll attempt to end as excessive as doable.
I don’t count on a straightforward life from our competitors. So will probably be one of many largest 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 also be his first with the Ferrari 499P:
“My first response was very optimistic. 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 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 totally different automobile 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 discovered to talk French right here and in addition acquired my driver’s license. So [for me] it’s virtually 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 rivals are very near us. So will probably 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 profitable 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 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 now have to be trustworthy. And we now have to remain centered till the tip 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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