Comments after Hypercar qualifying at Monza

The Autodromo Nazionale di Monza hosted qualifying for the 6 Hours, round five of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which will start at 12.30 p.m. on Sunday, 9 July (local time). The Ferrari 499Ps will set off from second and sixth, respectively, with the number 50 and 51 Hypercar crews thanks to the times set by Antonio Fuoco and Antonio Giovinazzi. Here are the drivers’ comments after the 15-minute timed session that decided the starting order.

Antonio Fuoco, #50 499P: “It was a very positive qualifying. It was a pity to lose pole position by 17 thousandths of a second, but we’re happy because we did our best to secure another start ahead of everyone after Le Mans. The race? No doubt it will be very demanding, both because of the track conditions and because it will be sweltering. We will need to stay focused and do our best. This round represents something special for Ferrari and an Italian driver like me. Since Friday, we have seen so many fans and felt their affection. It will be great to compete with a crowd like this.”

Antonio Giovinazzi, #51 499P: “During my third attempt to set the best time, I was doing all I could and would have knocked a tenth of a second off the previous benchmark, but I found myself in traffic with a Toyota in front and couldn’t do any better. We’ll start from sixth position in a long and not easy race, where we’ll do our best to bring joy to the many fans who have come to Monza.”

Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti: “Starting on the front row in front of our fans, who have already made their tremendous support felt since Thursday, is an excellent result that we didn’t expect on the eve of the race. Fuoco put in a superb lap, coming close to a third pole position, while it’s a pity that for the second time this season, another competitor affected our car’s qualifying performance. Giovinazzi was setting his best split times, and I’m sure he’d have managed to start further up the grid. It’s a long race, but it won’t be easy to catch up, not only because of the expected high temperatures here at Monza”.

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “A fine return for the FIA WEC and the Prancing Horse at Monza with an extraordinarily large and passionate turnout by our fans.
Unfortunately, the free practice confirmed that it won't be an easy weekend for Ferrari and that we’ll have to work hard to take away a podium finish. Regarding qualifying, we’re pleased with the overall performance and the front row. However, on the one hand, we’re sorry to have missed out on pole position with the 499P number 50 by just a few thousandths, while on the other hand, there’s also regret about the 51, which failed to put a lap together because it was obstructed on its best lap".