James Calado on Ferrari’s “united” WEC team: “A special place”
Ferrari has returned to the pinnacle of motorsport after deciding in 2023 to rejoin the WEC endurance races, 50 years after their last participation. This winning decision, championed by President John Elkann and Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti Global Head Antonello Coletta, has been rewarded with three consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and, above all, the 2025 double World Championship titles for Drivers and Manufacturers. This achievement ended a 53-year drought for Ferrari in closed-wheel racing and highlights the significance of this milestone, made possible by a top-level team that outperformed competitors and the dedication of drivers Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, who put the No. 51 499P on the top of the world.
During the Ferrari World Finals, we had the exclusive opportunity to speak with James Calado for ‘Formula1.it‘, reviewing the season, analyzing the secrets behind this achievement, and exploring the growth of Maranello’s Hypercar.
James, considering the results this season and the positions achieved in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships, what is your assessment of 2025?
“I would say the season went really well. The first part of the championship was much stronger than the second half of 2025. Towards the end, we faced several challenges; not everything went as planned. Not so much because of our speed or form, but due to various circumstances in the last events. These things happen; that’s racing. Despite everything, our goal at the start of the year was to reach all the targets we had set.”
The great results were also possible thanks to your teammates. What do you think is the secret of the team you form with Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi?
“Absolutely, I agree. I’ve known Alessandro Pier Guidi for many years and we’ve been racing together for a long time, since the LMGTE Pro days. Alessandro is a fighter, tenacious, and very, very fast. Antonio Giovinazzi is also a quick driver who, despite joining the WEC only a few seasons ago after his less fortunate F1 stint in 2023, has already reached our level. He has achieved significant milestones in a very short time.”
And the team—did Ferrari provide strong support throughout the championship?
“Yes, absolutely. Beyond my teammates, this result was made possible thanks to a phenomenal team that does an incredible job, both on track and back in Maranello. I feel really at home at Ferrari; it feels like a special place, and I am confident that the team will always provide the best possible package and strive for the best execution every race weekend, allowing us to fight for all our goals.”
Three years ago, when the 499P project was launched, did you expect such rapid progress and success, or did you anticipate a more difficult path?
“Yes, absolutely. To be honest, I wouldn’t be where I am now without the clear objective and ambition to win. Of course, three years ago, the Ferrari 499P was a brand-new car in a completely new category, the Hypercar class. It wasn’t easy to grow and extract all the speed from the project over these years. But from the start, we showed that we were competitive—from our debut at Sebring in 2023—and had great potential, which then allowed us to achieve extraordinary results, like three consecutive Le Mans victories and becoming World Champions.”
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