Ferrari’s global head of endurance, Antonello Coletta, has officially announced that Robert Shwartzman will be parting ways with the Italian automaker following this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship finale in Bahrain.
During a press briefing on Friday, Coletta confirmed that Robert Shwartzman will not return to the lineup for Ferrari’s third-string No. 83 AF Corse 499P in 2025 as he embarks on a new venture, which is widely believed to be a seat in the NTT IndyCar Series with Prema Racing.
Although the speculation surrounding Robert Shwartzman’s potential move to IndyCar has been ongoing for several months, Coletta emphasized that there will be no formal ties between Shwartzman and Ferrari in the future.
Robert Shwartzman, who is 25 years old, has been associated with the Maranello team since late 2017. He began his career with Ferrari as a junior driver, competing in various series like FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2. Since 2022, he has also served as a test and reserve driver for Ferrari’s Formula 1 team.
“He has decided to make another choice, but maximum respect for him,” Antonello Coletta confirmed.
This announcement comes on the heels of Antonello Coletta’s remarks during last weekend’s Ferrari Finali Mondiali, where he confirmed that there will be no alterations to the driver lineup for its two factory-entered 499P cars in the upcoming year.
When Sportscar365 inquired whether Ferrari had contemplated elevating either Robert Shwartzman or his teammate Yifei Ye to a factory seat for the next season, the man in charge of Ferrari’s Hypercar programme responded: “Our goal is to have three cars [that are] very consistent, and frankly speaking, we are very happy about [the drivers] of the No. 50 and No. 51. It’s important also to have good drivers in the No. 83. For the future, we will see. If it will be necessary, we can make an adjustment, but at the moment we are happy to keep the same combinations.” – the Italian pointed out.
Although Ye will continue with the No. 83 team next year alongside newly signed Phil Hanson, it is still uncertain whether Robert Kubica will remain with the squad for the next season. Antonello Coletta voiced his optimism that Kubica will choose to continue his association with AF Corse, especially considering that the Polish driver had previously shared doubts about prolonging his tenure with the Italian outfit earlier this year.
“I hope Robert stays in the lineup of the No. 83. This weekend I know that Amato [Ferrari] and Robert will have a final meeting. Our dream is to maintain Robert with us, because we all know his value, his experience. I believe that he is valuable for all of our projects and not just the No. 83.” – he added.
Coletta also addressed the futures of two additional drivers on Ferrari’s factory roster, Alessio Rovera and Lilou Wadoux, both of whom have had the opportunity to test the 499P.
While Rovera had been considered a potential candidate to move up from Ferrari’s LMGT3 lineup to a seat in the No. 83 team next year, particularly after serving as the brand’s Hypercar reserve this season, Coletta stressed the importance of the Italian driver’s contributions within the GT category. He remarked that Rovera is likely one of the most consistent drivers in GT racing and serves as a benchmark for the team. Additionally, Antonello Coletta noted that Alessio Rovera has been the reserve for the LMH program and participated in all the tests prior to the start of the 2023 season, although he highlighted the necessity of maintaining top competitiveness in GT.
Regarding Rovera’s future prospects, Coletta indicated that it is not impossible for him to progress further, emphasizing his speed and current participation in LMP2. He conveyed that it is essential for Alessio Rovera to keep his performance sharp in prototypes, suggesting that he may be considered for one of the team’s three cars in the future.
As for Lilou Wadoux, she tested the 499P during last year’s post-season rookie test in Bahrain and has been balancing her commitments this year between SUPER GT, where she competes in a 296 GT3 with PONOS Racing, and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in an LMP2 car run by AF Corse.
Antonello Coletta shared his belief that Lilou Wadoux will likely remain in GT racing for 2025, noting that her experiences in Japan have been quite beneficial. He pointed out her performance at Sugo, where she led for several laps before finishing second, as a testament to her talent.
The Italian manager expressed satisfaction with her progress and mentioned that there are many ideas for her future, although they need to finalize plans before making decisions about drivers for next year. Antonello Coletta explained that all GT3 programs are typically set in late November or early December, making it challenging to have a comprehensive view of all programs worldwide. Nevertheless, he reiterated the team’s commitment to providing Wadoux with the best possible opportunity that will offer consistent value, recognizing her strength and the importance of placing her in a competitive car.
Leave a Reply