Ferrari are departing for Brazil with full awareness that the Interlagos circuit may not play to the strengths of their Ferrari 499P prototype. However, the work carried out at Maranello, based on the data collected during last year’s visit, has been extensive. The main goal for the team remains clear: to collect as many points as possible to stay on top of the World Endurance Championship standings.
After putting aside the immense satisfaction of their early-season success—including a dominant showing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the AF Corse-entered 499P—Ferrari now turns its attention fully to the second half of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season. The team’s objective is to defend its current lead in both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ standings.
The 6 Hours of São Paulo marks the first of the four remaining rounds in the season. The Maranello-based outfit has not hidden the fact that, alongside the Fuji and Bahrain events, Interlagos is among the most challenging tracks on paper. Yet, it is also one of the most anticipated races, offering a true measure of the team’s progress since the beginning of the year.
Back in 2024, the Brazilian circuit hosted the debut of key updates on Ferrari’s LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) prototype. All the data gathered during that weekend will now prove extremely valuable as the engines roar to life again on Friday for practice sessions on a track known for its elevation changes and demanding layout.
“São Paulo is a pivotal and highly significant stop on the calendar,” explained Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars at Ferrari. “We arrive in Brazil aware of the work we have done so far and with the determination to continue improving ourselves at every opportunity.”
“Following our third victory at Le Mans—and the fourth consecutive win this season—the level of competition will be extremely high. Nonetheless, our objective remains to fight for top positions and secure valuable points for the championship battle.”
“The Interlagos track is a technically demanding circuit, featuring fast corners, elevation changes, and a particularly abrasive asphalt that challenges tire management. Therefore, both car setup and race strategy will play a decisive role.”
Cannizzo went on to underline the team’s efforts: “Our engineers have worked intensively, both in the simulator and in the office, analyzing a wide range of setup configurations and strategic scenarios. We have developed specific solutions tailored to the unique demands of this race. So despite the difficulties that we anticipate, we are confident in our ability to meet our objectives.”
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti at Ferrari, echoed that confidence. He is always a source of strong motivation for the team: “We head to Brazil for the season’s turning point in a favorable position. We are currently leading the World Championship standings in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ categories, as well as among the independent teams thanks to the performance of the AF Corse-entered 499P, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
“Despite this, we are fully aware that the next four rounds will be complex, and we must continue performing at our best while avoiding mistakes. Interlagos is perhaps one of the most difficult tracks for our 499P, just like Lusail was at the season opener—yet we still managed to take victory there along with a historic 1-2-3 finish.”
“With humility and focus, combined with a strong belief in the capabilities of our team, we will take to the track aiming to achieve the best possible result,” Coletta concluded.
As for the driver lineups, the championship-leading crew of the No. 51 Ferrari 499P—Antonio Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi—heads to Interlagos eager to return to the top step of the podium after their third-place finish at Le Mans. Their eyes are firmly set on the world title.
“It feels great to be back on track after the announcement that I will continue racing as an official Ferrari driver in the future,” said Antonio Giovinazzi, who recently renewed his contract with the Maranello-based marque. “This fills me with pride and gives me additional motivation to give it my all.”
“Last year in Brazil, we didn’t perform particularly well in terms of results or pace, but we now know which areas we need to improve. We will do our utmost to achieve the best result possible. We come to Interlagos as leaders in the World Championship standings, and our target is to collect as many points as possible to maintain our position.”
Teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi added, “I don’t believe Interlagos is the most favorable track for our car, but we’ve shown this year that we’ve made general improvements across various circuits. Our hope is to score a strong result. As has been the case since the beginning of the season, our goal will be to bring home the maximum number of points possible.”
“If we are in a position to fight for the win or secure a podium, we’ll go for it. Our main ambition is to stay at the top of the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships. Compared to 2024, the circuit has a new asphalt surface, which we’ll only truly understand once we’re on track.”
James Calado also emphasized that the weekend may bring some challenges: “Last year, the São Paulo track proved to be difficult for us, while it seemed to favor some of our rivals. Personally, I really like the layout—it’s a fun and technical circuit—but I expect a tough race.”
“Our main objective is to collect a strong haul of points to solidify our advantage in the Drivers’ standings and ensure that Ferrari earns a good result for the Constructors’ Championship.”
On the other side of the garage, the disqualification at Le Mans has made the title pursuit more complicated for the No. 50 crew—Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen. Despite this, they are fully prepared to give their all in Brazil.
“Racing at Interlagos always brings great emotions for a driver. The overall atmosphere and passionate crowd make it a very special experience,” said Antonio Fuoco. “We return to the track after Le Mans with the determination to secure a strong result and gather important points for the championship.”
“Although last year’s race in São Paulo was far from easy for Ferrari, we are confident that we can make progress by building on what we learned in 2024. The team’s objective will be to maximize the car’s potential and secure the best result possible.”
His teammate Miguel Molina added: “It’s fantastic to return to São Paulo and race in front of fans who welcomed us so warmly last year, showing how passionate South America is about endurance racing and the Prancing Horse. I’m also happy to be back in the World Endurance Championship after a Le Mans that unfortunately didn’t go our way.”
“There’s a strong desire within the team to get back in the cockpit of the 499P and enjoy a competitive weekend. We’re hoping to achieve a high-ranking result that will earn us crucial points for the championship battle.”
Nicklas Nielsen, who recently became a father to baby Stella with his partner Paola (congratulations!), concluded: “In 2024, the São Paulo circuit proved to be a tough challenge for us. It’s a track that causes significant tire degradation. However, since the circuit has been resurfaced, we’ll need to wait until the first free practice sessions to properly assess the new conditions.”
“We are expecting a difficult race, but we will give our maximum effort and aim to fight for the leading positions. Interlagos is an iconic place for all motorsport fans, and it’s always a thrill to race in front of such an amazing crowd.”
Leave a Reply