Ferrari Says It Won’t Interfere in Drivers’ Title Battle

Photo: Charly Lopez/DPPI

Ferrari says it will not interfere in the battle for the FIA World Endurance Championship drivers’ title between two of its 499P crews this weekend in Bahrain, reiterating that its priority remains sealing the manufacturers’ championship.

The factory No. 51 Ferrari crew currently enjoys a 13-point advantage over the satellite AF Corse No. 83 car at the summit of the drivers’ standings ahead of the season finale, while Ferrari has a strong 39-point lead over Porsche in the manufacturers’ table.

But the No. 83 machine does not score manufacturers’ points and therefore Ferrari’s head of endurance race cars Ferdinando Cannizzo says team orders will not decide the drivers’ battle in the closing stages of the race.

“At some point, when we’re sure the manufacturers’ championship is there — if, I cross my fingers — at that point we will see what we can do to leave our cars free to play for the drivers’ championship and leave them to free competition to achieve what they could,” he said.

“What I don’t want to do is for this to compromise the achievement of the manufacturers’ championship because, for Ferrari, this is the priority.”

Cannizzo said the fact there are three 499Ps in the mix gives Ferrari more strategic options for the eight-hour race against the two Porsche Penske Motorsport-run 963s, with the No. 6 car of Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor trailing the No. 51 Ferrari by 21 points in the drivers’ standings.

“Considering we have an advantage [in the points] against our competitors, not huge but still in front, we have to just mark them and stay close to them,” added Cannizzo. “Being three cars, we will be able to play some flexible strategies during the race.

“At the very start, the fact the yellow [No. 83] won’t score points will change dramatically the situation. We need to stay in front as much as possible, the more we’re in front — whichever is the car, whether it’s red or yellow — the more points we take away from our competitors.”

Alessandro Pier Guidi shares the points-leading No. 51 499P with James Calado and Antonio Giovinazzi and says he will treat the No. 83 crew as “just another car.”

“It’s also true they don’t score any points for the manufacturers’ so why should I compromise my strategy for them?” he said, referring to the No. 83 machine that will be shared by Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye.

Pier Guidi added that the atmosphere within the team is the same as at any other race, despite both of the championships being on the line and that Ferrari is determined to add title success to its trio of Le Mans 24 Hours victories.

“After three years in a row that we win Le Mans, it would be really nice,” Pier Guidi said of the prospect of Ferrari winning the world championships. “It’s a target we’re all missing since many, many years.

“During the season we did a good job, this is why we’re in the lead position and we will try to finish in the best way we can. It would be very nice for us and for Ferrari to achieve this goal and we will try our best to do it. Everyone of us involved will give 110 percent.”