The FIA World Endurance Championship is preparing for its second round of the season, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, set to take place this weekend at the iconic Ardennes circuit. Ferrari arrives in Belgium full of confidence, aiming to build on its strong second-place finish in the opening round at Imola.
Since returning to the top class of the WEC, Ferrari has consistently shown strong competitiveness at Spa. This includes a victory in 2025 and a remarkable qualifying lockout with the 499P entries #50, #51, and the AF Corse #83 car.
Although the Balance of Performance from Imola was not publicly known, Ferrari appeared to be slightly down on power compared to the Toyota GR010 Hybrid. In particular, the 499P cars struggled on exit from chicanes, which helped Toyota secure victory. Ferrari also suffered longer pit stops—around four seconds slower than Toyota—likely linked to higher energy recovery strategies.
Another key factor was tyre strategy. Ferrari was unable to complete triple stints on a single set of tyres, while Toyota managed to extend their stints more effectively, which ultimately contributed to their race win.
The big question now is whether the same pattern will repeat at Spa, a circuit where Ferrari has traditionally excelled. The Maranello squad’s objective remains unchanged: fight for the highest possible result.
Ferrari leadership: confidence and expectations
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti, commented:
“After the first round in Imola, which we are pleased with in terms of team performance and the competitiveness of our 499P—finishing a perfect race with car #51 and a strong but slightly more complicated run for car #50—we return to action in Spa aiming to extract the maximum potential from our cars.”
“The Belgian circuit has always suited the 499P well, and since its debut it has shown strong pace here. We have achieved important results in previous seasons, including victory and a front-row lockout in qualifying in 2025. We arrive in Belgium confident in our competitiveness and focused on executing a perfect weekend as a team.”
Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars, added:
“We leave Imola with confidence in our competitiveness, but also aware that the podium is just a starting point. Our focus is now fully on Spa-Francorchamps.”
“Based on what we saw from our rivals at Imola, it is clear that the field in Belgium will be even more competitive. The gaps are tighter, the level has increased significantly, and our competitors have shown strong consistency that leaves no room for mistakes.”
“On such a technical and unpredictable circuit like Spa, the challenge will be twofold. It will not be enough to have a fast 499P—we will need to be perfect in every decision and every phase of the race.”
“Spa is a key test for the championship and the final major preparation before Le Mans. The team is determined to maximise its potential and fight again for the top positions.”
Spa: victory push or tactical game for Le Mans?
The question naturally arises: will Spa be a full push for victory, or a strategic race ahead of Le Mans?
In WEC, every team wants to win every race—but everyone knows Le Mans is the crown jewel. That reality sometimes leads teams to compromise earlier rounds, including Spa-Francorchamps, in order to arrive at Le Mans with the best possible package in terms of performance, energy deployment, and weight.
There are even concerns that Spa could become a “slow race” as teams manage performance strategically. Ferrari, however, is expected to push hard to balance its record against Toyota, knowing that the 499P is particularly well suited to the demands of Le Mans.
Only once cars hit the track through Eau Rouge and La Source will the true competitive picture become clear—and we will see who is pushing fully, and who might be holding something back.
Ferrari drivers preview the 6 Hours of Spa
Car #51
Alessandro Pier Guidi: “At Spa, since our first year with the 499P, we have shown strong performance. I really enjoy this circuit and I have achieved many good results here over the years. We approach the second round of the 2026 season knowing we must execute everything perfectly to fight for a strong result. It will be very difficult to repeat last year’s success, when we achieved a third consecutive Ferrari victory, pole position, and a lockout of the top three qualifying positions. The weather could also play a role, as rain is always a possibility at Spa, which may help us maximise our potential.”
James Calado: “We aim to execute everything perfectly from FP1 to the chequered flag. I expect a very tough 6 Hours of Spa and a more complicated weekend compared to 2025. After second place at Imola, our goal is to score as many points as possible in Belgium.”
Antonio Giovinazzi: “It is always special to race at Spa, one of the most challenging and enjoyable circuits in the world. We arrive with confidence after a strong start to the season with second place and pole position at Imola. We need to stay focused from the first lap in practice to the final kilometres of the race if we want a strong result, especially at a track where we had such a memorable weekend last year.”
Car #50
Antonio Fuoco: “We arrive at Spa aiming to do our best, as always. It is a circuit where the 499P has traditionally performed very well, and last year we achieved both victory and pole position. However, we know this will not be an easy weekend, especially after seeing the progress made by our rivals at Imola. Weather could also mix things up, and we must be ready to adapt.”
Miguel Molina: “Imola was a strong weekend for Ferrari, finishing second and sixth. Now we return to a circuit I really enjoy, where the 499P has always shown great potential. Spa is also important because it is the final race before Le Mans. We will fight hard to achieve the best possible result.”
Nicklas Nielsen: “The 499P has always suited Spa well, both in dry and wet conditions, which is important given the unpredictable weather. However, the 2026 race will be challenging. We need to be strong in every area to get a good result. At Imola we missed out on a bigger points haul, so we return determined to improve because every race matters for the championship.”
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