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Hanson Enthused by “Exciting Challenge” of Ferrari Switch

Hanson looks back on first day in Ferrari 499P after a season in Porsche machinery at JOTA…

Photo: Javier Jimenez/DPPI

Phil Hanson says he is relishing the “exciting challenge” of getting used to driving the Ferrari 499P in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year after a season racing a customer Porsche 963 for Hertz Team JOTA.

Ahead of last month’s Bahrain WEC finale, it was announced that Hanson would be joining the crew for AF Corse’s third-string No. 83 Ferrari in 2025, the Briton effectively taking the place of NTT IndyCar Series-bound Robert Shwartzman.

It comes after a season campaigning the No. 38 Porsche with JOTA, which the Briton combined with a IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup program with another Porsche customer team in the form of JDC-Miller Motorsports.

Hanson had his first taste of the 499P in the post-season rookie test in Bahrain immediately after the eight-hour season closer at the same track.

“It was quite an experience having to change your driving style to adapt to a car that generates its lap time in a very different way [to the Porsche],” Hanson told reporters.

“Especially after a race where you have all your references and your body is used to making the same movements and doing the same things in every corner, knowing what works for lap time, and having to change that up to create the lap time in a different way was quite an exciting challenge. I rose to it and it was fun. 

“I wouldn’t say there was one big thing I had to change, just little things here and there. But these are also things you might do in the Porsche with a different setup. 

“Equally, you could set the Ferrari up to be more similar to the Porsche if you wanted to, but I don’t think that’s how you extract lap time from it.”

Asked by Sportscar365 if he felt one day was enough to get up to speed with the 499P, Hanson replied: “I think I am up to speed to be honest. 

“The lap I did was with traffic, and I was on the harder tire, in the warmest part of the day. I’m happy with where I am and I think the team are too.”

Hanson will partner Yifei Ye and Robert Kubica aboard the No. 83 Ferrari next season for what will be his sixth season in the WEC and his second in Hypercar.

The 25-year-old Briton admitted that the lure of the Ferrari brand played a role in his decision-making for the 2025 season, as he also weighed up potential opportunities in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“In my eyes it’s the most impressive manufacturer to drive with,” said Hanson of Ferrari.

“I have always been a fan of Ferrari growing up, both road cars and race cars. It’s an amazing brand and to race with them is pretty amazing.

“Learning the Italian ways will be an adjustment for sure! When you think of Italy, you think of Ferrari and vice versa. The stereotype applies to the team: everyone has a coffee in their hand and are smiling! It has been a really nice welcome.”

Along with one of his teammates in the No. 38 Porsche this year, Oliver Rasmussen, Hanson was not retained by JOTA for the start of its factory alliance with Cadillac.

Asked by Sportscar365 if it was ever a consideration to stay with the British team, Hanson said: “I was open to it, because I’ve really enjoyed working with JOTA. 

“They have Cadillac drivers under contract and [other] drivers already at JOTA, so it was just the way it played out. But I think it worked out well for both us: they have a strong driver lineup and I’ve gone somewhere competitive. 

“Nobody knows what the right move would have been, but I am very content with the decision I made.”

Jamie Klein is Sportscar365's Asian editor. Japan-based Klein, who previously worked for Motorsport Network on the Motorsport.cоm and Autosport titles, covers the FIA World Endurance Championship and SUPER GT, among other series.

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