No. 50 Ferrari to “Maximize Race by Race” to Close Points Gap

Miguel Molina believes the No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse crew needs to push to ‘maximize results race by race’ to regain lost ground in the FIA World Endurance Championship title battle after suffering a points loss due to a disqualification after the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Molina, Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen enter this weekend’s 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, the fifth race of an eight-round season, third in the Hypercar drivers’ standings.

They trail the leading No. 51 Ferrari 499P by 48 points, a gap that increased significantly after its Le Mans post-race disqualification for a technical infringement cost the No. 50 crew 24 points for the fourth-placed finish it had initially scored.

Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo, Molina acknowledged the challenge that he, Fuoco and Nielsen now face for the remainder of the campaign.

At the same time, the Spaniard laid out an objective to claw back as much of the deficit as possible prior to the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain, where more points will be on offer to reflect the longer race distance.

“Since the last race, we need to now focus race by race to try to maximize the results as [much as] we can and try to be as close as possible for Bahrain,” said Molina.

“That is the race where it’s giving more points for the championship. To do that we need to [push] race by race and to try to maximize the points and to maximize the situation.

“We know it will be difficult and as well we have a big goal as well [with the] manufacturers’ championship which is very important for us.

“But we’ll try to do our best and try to be in front [as much as] possible from here to the end of the championship.”

For his part, No. 51 driver Antonio Giovinazzi noted that the championship is far from a foregone conclusion with four races remaining where 113 points remain up for grabs.

“Still four races to go,” Giovinazzi said. “Bahrain, also big points there. In terms of Ferrari, we are in a good position. We are first, second and third.

“We need to use this advantage until the end. Just work together, play together and just try to stay in the front until Bahrain.”

Giovinazzi: Ferrari Extension Came at “Right Moment”

On Tuesday, Ferrari announced that it had reached an agreement with Giovinazzi for a multi-year contract extension, further strengthening a relationship between driver and brand that first started in 2017.

When asked about the contract extension, Giovinazzi said that it “came at the right moment” after a successful, initial three-year stint as part of the Prancing Horse’s Hypercar program that peaked with a win in the centenary edition of Le Mans in 2023.

“If I sign, that’s what I want to do,” Giovinazzi said. “It’s been a fantastic three years with this team, with my teammates, with this car. A lot of success.

“It’s the right thing in the right moment and I’m really happy to show it to you that I extended my contract.”