Ferrari Confirms Shwartzman Departure After Bahrain

Ferrari’s global head of endurance Antonello Coletta has confirmed that Robert Shwartzman will sever ties with the Italian manufacturer after this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship season closer in Bahrain.

Coletta told reporters on Friday that Shwartzman will no longer be part of the lineup for Ferrari’s third-string No. 83 AF Corse 499P in 2025 as he pursues a new opportunity, understood to be a drive in the NTT IndyCar Series with Prema Racing.

While Shwartzman’s likely IndyCar move has been speculated for months, Coletta also clarified that Shwartzman will have no formal relationship with Ferrari going forward.

The 25-year-old has been on the Maranello brand’s books since late 2017, initially as a junior driver in categories such as FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2, and then as a member of the Ferrari Formula 1 test and reserve roster since 2022.

“He has decided to make another choice, but maximum respect for him,” said Coletta.

The news follows Coletta stating at last weekend’s Ferrari Finali Mondiali that there will be no changes to the drivers of its two factory-entered 499Ps next year.

Asked by Sportscar365 whether Ferrari had considered promoting either Shwartzman or his fellow factory Ferrari driver Yifei Ye to a factory seat next season, Coletta said: “Our goal is to have three cars [that are] very consistent, and frankly speaking, we are very happy about [the drivers] of the No. 50 and No. 51.

“It’s important also to have good drivers in the No. 83. For the future, we will see. If it will be necessary, we can make an adjustment, but at the moment we are happy to keep the same combinations.”

While Ye is set to remain part of the No. 83 crew next year, along with new signing Phil Hanson, it remains unclear whether Robert Kubica will stay on in 2025.

Coletta expressed his hope that Kubica will finally opt to stay with AF Corse after the Polish driver expressed reservations earlier in the year about extending his relationship with the Italian team.

“I hope Robert stays in the lineup of the No. 83,” he said. “This weekend I know that Amato [Ferrari] and Robert will have a final meeting.

“Our dream is to maintain Robert with us, because we all know his value, his experience. I believe that he is valuable for all of our projects and not just the No. 83.”

Rovera, Wadoux Likely to Remain in GT3s for 2025

Coletta also spoke about the future of two other drivers on Ferrari’s factory roster, Alessio Rovera and Lilou Wadoux, who have both tested the 499P.

While Rovera had been thought of as a candidate to make a step up from Ferrari’s LMGT3 ranks to a seat in the No. 83 next year, having served as the brand’s Hypercar reserve this year, Coletta also emphasized the Italian driver’s value in GT machinery.

“Alessio is probably one of the most consistent drivers in the GT, and he is our reference,” said Coletta. “He is the reserve for the LMH [program] and he was part of all the tests before the start of 2023, but we need to maintain the maximum competitiveness in GT.

“For the future, why not? It’s not impossible. Alessio is very fast and he is also running in LMP2 because it’s important for us for him to maintain [his speed] in a prototype because in the future it should be that we can consider him for one of our three cars.”

Wadoux tested the 499P in last year’s post-season rookie test in Bahrain, and has split her time this year between programs in SUPER GT in a PONOS Racing-run 296 GT3 and the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in a AF Corse-run LMP2 car.

On Wadoux’s plans for 2025, Coletta said: “I believe she will stay in GTs. The Japanese experience has been very good for Lilou, and [at Sugo] she was first for many laps and finally she finished second. This is a reflection of her value.

“We are very happy about her improvement. We have a lot of ideas for Lilou but we need to define some plans to decide drivers next year.

“All the GT3 programs are normally defined in late November or early December, so it’s difficult to have a complete vision regarding the all the programs around the world.

“But we want to give Lilou the best possible program that delivers consistent value for her, because she is very strong and we need to have her in a very good car.”