Comments from 499P drivers after 6 Hours of Imola

It was a close race at the Imola circuit. At the end of the six hours, the Ferrari 499P number 50, driven by Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen, and Antonio Fuoco, finished fourth and set the fastest lap time. The number 51 car, piloted by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, finished in seventh place. AF Corse’s 499P number 83 secured eighth place overall and clinched the top spot in the independent team standings.

Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti: “The result at the end of the 6 Hours of Imola was not as expected, considering the great potential displayed by our 499Ps in the preceding days. When the rain came, the race was affected by the mistake of not varying the strategies among our three cars that had led up to that point. The disappointment is compounded by the regret of not delivering the deserved joy to the many fans who came to Imola and once again showed their immense affection for Ferrari and their passion for our involvement in the top endurance class. Among the positive highlights, I want to emphasise AF Corse’s success among the independent teams, with a first victory for the 499P number 83 in its second appearance in the championship.”

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “We conclude the 6 Hours of Imola with regret about the result, as we had the potential to secure overall podium positions, having led the race for nearly four hours. We know that the Ferrari 499P’s performance on slick tyres is excellent in damp track conditions, and even in the wet at the start, it was pretty good, so we tried to extend the lead over our competitors. However, in the end, misjudging the weather forecast, we made a late call that compromised the overall result. In the finale the number 50 499P delivered an outstanding stint in wet track conditions with slick tyres, while the number 83 Ferrari secured an impressive class win, undoubtedly a positive aspect of the race. There is still much work ahead, and as always, we will approach it with humility, working to regain competitiveness at Spa.”

Nicklas Nielsen, 499P #50: “The race showed promise at the start, with a strong pace in the opening hours. However, the weather changed, and we could not finish the 6 Hours of Imola as we’d liked. At the end of the day, we can’t be entirely satisfied. We’ll aim to gather valuable insights from this race to improve our performance and return determined to do our best as of the next race at Spa.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi, 499P #51: “Unfortunately, we’re commenting on a final result that doesn’t reflect the potential of our cars. Finishing off the podium in front of the many fans who supported us here at Imola is disappointing. We made an excellent start and managed the first half of the race well. We understand the nature of motorsport, where joy can sometimes swiftly turn into disappointment. So, we leave Imola aware of our potential and recognise the need to continue improving. We’re already looking ahead to the next event at Spa in May, aiming to achieve a strong result.”

Robert Shwartzman, 499P #83: “I am delighted to have achieved a class victory here at Imola in front of so many fans who showed all their passion for Ferrari. Overall, we were highly competitive throughout the weekend, both in practice and qualifying, and we were satisfied with our front-row position for the start of the 6 Hours. In the race, the variable weather, transitioning from dry to rainy in the middle portion, did us no favours. It’s unfortunate because we could have achieved a better overall placing otherwise.”