Ferrari 499P Drivers Seek Redemption at São Paulo 6 Hours After Le Mans Setback
Ferrari's WEC team arrives at Interlagos for the São Paulo 6 Hours on July 12, aiming to bounce back after a difficult Le Mans and improve on past struggles at the circuit.
- 4th of 2026 FIA WEC
- 8
- 3 (2 factory, 1 privateer)
- 1 pole position and 1 podium (both at Imola)
What Happened
Ferrari's 499P Hypercar drivers and team leaders shared their thoughts ahead of the São Paulo 6 Hours, the fourth round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The race takes place on Sunday, July 12 at the Interlagos circuit. Ferrari fields three 499Ps: the factory number 50 and 51 cars, plus the number 83 entry for AF Corse. The number 50 crew consists of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen; the number 51 crew is Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi; and the number 83 crew includes Yifei Ye, Phil Hanson, and Robert Kubica.
“Interlagos has been quite a difficult circuit for us, considering the results we have achieved with the 499P over the past two years, but as always we will return to action with maximum determination to optimise the package at our disposal and finish with the best result possible. After our retirement at Le Mans with our number 50 499P, we are eager to bounce back, so we hope to be among the prota”
“We arrive in Brazil for the fourth round of the championship after the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which, unlike previous editions, did not bring us the same satisfaction. Now it is time to look ahead and tackle the São Paulo 6 Hours with the objective, as always, of doing our very best on a demanding circuit featuring elevation changes and a distinctive technical layout, where we have recorded mixed res”
“We arrive in Brazil leaving behind a difficult Le Mans race, but also one that was very useful from a technical point of view for the many areas of improvement it highlighted. Interlagos is a technical and demanding circuit, with frequent changes in gradient and a sequence of corners that requires a car with a wide balance window, effective traction and the ability to manage the tyres well. In pas”
Why this matters
The São Paulo 6 Hours is the fourth round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship, and Ferrari trails in both Manufacturers' and Drivers' standings after a retirement and a fifth-place finish at Le Mans. With only eight races in the season, every event is critical for title hopes. The Brazilian public's passionate support for Ferrari adds extra motivation for the team.
Terms in This Story
- FIA WEC
- FIA World Endurance Championship, a global sports car racing series for prototypes and GT cars.
- 499P
- Ferrari's Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) racer, powered by a hybrid V6 engine.
- Hypercar
- The top class in the FIA WEC, featuring hybrid and non-hybrid prototypes with a combined power limit.
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