The 2025 WEC 6 Hours of Fuji ended with more shadows than highlights for Ferrari Hypercars, which faced a challenging, almost prohibitive, trip to the Japanese circuit. The official 499P cars crossed the finish line in 11th and 15th place, respectively, for the #50 and #51 crews, far from the front and from the positions to which Maranello’s Red had accustomed fans in recent races.
While disappointing, the result does not compromise Ferrari’s main objective: the team remains leader of the Constructors’ Championship, and the trio of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi retains the top spot in the Drivers’ standings. The battle for both world titles will therefore be decided at the final race in Bahrain on 8 November 2025.
James Calado reflects on the weekend
James Calado, driver of the #51 499P, summed up the frustration of the weekend, openly expressing disappointment after a tough outing:
“This was a complex weekend, and we cannot be satisfied with it. We need to turn the page and focus positively on the next round in Bahrain, where we will still enter as leaders in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships. We have a major goal, and we will aim to achieve it in the final race.”
His words conveyed both awareness of a negative result and determination to move forward with confidence, fully conscious of what is at stake in the season finale.
A defensive race
From the start, the Japanese round proved challenging for Ferrari’s Hypercars. In a technical context that favored rivals and complicated Ferrari’s tire management, the 499P cars were forced into a defensive role, never having the pace to fight at the front.
In an effort to extract the maximum from the car, the #51 crew incurred two heavy penalties: a Drive Through and a Stop & Go, both for exceeding the allowed number of track limits. These incidents effectively ended Calado, Pier Guidi, and Giovinazzi’s chances of a top finish.
Expectations met—but negatively
The Fuji round had been flagged as one of the most difficult for Ferrari even before the weekend, and the forecasts unfortunately proved accurate. Ferrari engineers had warned that the Japanese track layout and tire demands could disadvantage the 499P against direct rivals such as Toyota, Porsche, and Cadillac.
The final result confirmed the inherent difficulties of the trip, turning the race into an exercise in endurance rather than a realistic chance for victory.
Standings remain favorable
Despite the setback, Ferrari can look ahead with confidence. In the Constructors’ Championship, the Red maintains its lead, giving the team the advantage heading into the final round in Bahrain with destiny still in its hands.
In the Drivers’ standings, the Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi trio remains at the top, though with a narrow margin that will make the 8 Hours of Bahrain a true world championship decider.
Bahrain, the decisive round
The 2025 FIA WEC season concludes on Saturday, 8 November 2025, with the 8 Hours of Bahrain—a race that will decide the world titles. It will be the moment of truth for Ferrari, tasked with defending its leadership against determined rivals ready to capitalize on any mistake.
For Calado and his teammates, the Middle Eastern round represents an opportunity to reaffirm the strength of a project that, despite temporary setbacks, remains among the most competitive in endurance racing.
The 6 Hours of Fuji left a bitter taste for Ferrari and its fans, forcing the 499P cars into a defensive weekend. Yet, the true verdict of the season is still to be written. As James Calado emphasized, the goal remains clear: to finish in Bahrain as world champions. It is there that the Red will once again have to demonstrate its greatness.
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