The winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours with Antonio Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi has conceded that the Italian producer’s 499P Le Mans Hypercar is missing tempo in all areas after neither of the 2 AF Corse-run vehicles had been on the tempo within the opening two classes of free observe.
“Actually unhealthy, no tempo in any respect,” mentioned Calado forward of the ultimate session of free observe on Friday forward of the Bahrain 8 Hours.
“We’re scratching our heads a bit of bit: the automobile truly feels fairly good to drive, it appears regular, nevertheless it’s simply that we’re two or three seconds off.”
“We are able to solely actually evaluate to the final race [at Fuji in September], and we’re off in each space just about.”
Ferrari sportscar technical director Ferdinando Cannizzo was extra diplomatic than Calado however admitted that the Italian producer is going through “a really massive problem” to show its Bahrain weekend round.
The most effective of the Ferraris was greater than three seconds off the tempo of the Toyotas on the prime of the timesheets in Free Observe 2, the extra consultant of the 2 classes on Thursday.
The 2 vehicles stuffed out tenth and eleventh positions within the Hypercar area forward of solely the Vanwall Vandervell 680.
Photograph by: Shameem Fahath
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Each Calado and Cannizzo defined that the shortage of tempo thus far hasn’t been completely sudden within the wake of a pre-event personal take a look at with the 499P in October.
“The fact is that after the take a look at we got here right here realising that it was going to be troublesome,” mentioned Calado, who retains an out of doors probability of taking the WEC Hypercar title with Giovinazzi and Pier Guidi within the championship finale on Saturday.
“It was about 10C hotter, so we’d hoped that the cooler temperatures would assist, however the actuality is that it’s the identical because the take a look at.”
Cannizzo advised that there was hope for the race as a result of the 499P gave the impression to be taking care of its tyres on the cruel Bahrain Worldwide Circuit floor.
“I’ve to say on tyre administration every part appears to be like excellent: warm-up is sensible, degradation is greater than good, I feel we’re the very best of the sector on degradation,” he mentioned.
“Yesterday we had been actually pleased in FP2, the session from which we had probably the most knowledge.”
He defined that many of the deficit confronted by Ferrari is the results of poor traction and straight line pace.
“Grip-wise we aren’t too unhealthy; observe and [top] pace is the place we’re missing probably the most,” he mentioned.
Photograph by: Shameem Fahath
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
“Right here there are three important [long] straights, which makes it very troublesome for us to combat.”
Cannizzo additionally hinted on the impact of the Steadiness of Efficiency on the 499Ps at Bahrain, saying “there’s something we can’t discuss”.
Producers, groups and drivers are forbidden by regulation from speaking concerning the BoP.
After adjustments to the BoP following Le Mans, Ferrari has been unable to problem the Toyotas, although its vehicles have remained firmly within the prime six.
Cannizzo conceded that the 499P was already near its potential across the Bahrain circuit whereas stressing that he and Ferrari had been on no account giving up.
“Even supposing the mission appears to be not possible. we will probably be looking for something — on set-up, on technique, on every part — that can put us within the situations to combat, at the least for the rostrum.”