
Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI
Ferrari driver James Calado has expressed his optimism of having a stronger 2025 campaign in the FIA World Endurance Championship after what he described as a “diabolical” season for the No. 51 crew in terms of results.
Calado and his co-drivers Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi endured a troubled 2024 season in which they scored only a single podium, a third-place finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on their way to eighth in the standings.
It followed non-finishes for the No. 51 Ferrari 499P at both the Circuit of The Americas and Fuji, a further finish outside of the points in the season-opening Qatar 1812km and a disqualification from the final round of the season in Bahrain.
Further chances to score big points were lost at Imola due to changing weather, and at Spa, where the stewards’ decision to extend the race beyond its original duration after a red flag also put the Italian manufacturer at a disadvantage.
Looking back on 2024, Calado ranked it as one of his worst seasons personally but believes the No. 51 crew could have played a more significant role in the championship fight along with the sister No. 50 Ferrari without so much misfortune.
“In performance, we’ve been pretty decent in all the races,” said Calado ahead of the Bahrain finale. “But in terms of results, it’s been pretty diabolical.
“We had two DNFs and once you have that in an eight-race championship it’s game over. “Then also the Spa thing, Imola… always being at the front and not getting the points. Without all these issues we’d be at the front of the championship.
“It’s been one of the worst seasons I’ve ever had. But sometimes it’s out of your control and there’s nothing you can do. In the last two races [COTA and Fuji], I didn’t even drive.
“Consistency is key – I know that from the last ten years. But you need to finish every race and have a good Le Mans. That’s how you put yourself in good stead.
“You can be super-fast and not win a championship because of the limited number of races we have. It is what it is. I’m looking forward to next year already, to be honest.”
Despite the lack of results, Calado said he felt he, Pier Guidi and Giovinazzi were “much stronger” in 2024 than they had been the previous year, when they won at Le Mans and finished much closer to the sister No. 50 Ferrari crew.
“Compared to last year, we are so much faster in terms of performance and we know exactly why,” he said. “It’s just a shame we couldn’t put it on paper.”
The British driver added he is hopeful that he and his teammates can take that performance through to the 2025 season, when he, Pier Guidi and Giovinazzi will return for a third season as a trio aboard the No. 51 Ferrari.
“I’m going into next year a lot more confident,” said Calado.
“I hope we keep the same engineer [Baptiste Allain] because pretty much every year I’ve been with Ale [Pier Guidi] we change engineers and it always takes a few races to build that relationship and understand each other,” he said.
“We’re in a really strong position in terms of pace and performance compared to last year. And then from the start of next year that would already put us in a better window.”
