Ferrari doesn't plan to change WEC Hypercar driver line-up for 2026
Ferrari aims to stick with the same driver line-up across its two factory 499P Le Mans Hypercars for the 2026 WEC season
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina, #51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photo by: Nikolaz Godet
Ferrari has outlined an intent to go into its 2026 World Endurance Championship campaign with an unchanged roster of drivers in the two factory 499P Le Mans Hypercars.
Antonello Coletta, the Italian manufacturer’s sportscar racing boss, has again stressed the importance of stability in the AF Corse-run works Hypercar team’s line-up.
“There is no intention to change anybody, so I hope that we can keep the same team for the next seasons,” Coletta stated during Le Mans 24 Hours week.
“For us stability of drivers is something that is truly fundamental - it's one of the pillars on which we carry out our sporting activity.
“That doesn't mean that we will never change but, for now, we're extremely happy with the drivers we have.”
He added that the results achieved by the crews of the #50 and #51 entries since the arrival of the 499P in the WEC in 2023 “make us really proud and happy with the choices we made”.
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen, Miguel Molina, #51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photo by: Marc Fleury
But Coletta stressed that it was too early to confirm that the line-ups of Antonio Fuoco, Nicklas Nielsen and Miguel Molina in #50 and James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi in #51 will remain together for a fourth consecutive season.
“We never talk about the following season before the end of Le Mans,” he explained.
“Le Mans is a kind of U-turn of the season: there are drivers that have multi-year contracts and others [with contracts] being renewed.
“So after the 24 Hours, as is our practice, when there are agreements to be renewed, we sit at the table and find the best solution for everyone.”
Coletta’s comments come at a time when the Hypercar driver market has been blown wide open by the forthcoming arrival of three new manufacturers in the division: Genesis will enter the WEC next year and then McLaren and Ford in 2027.
Genesis is known to have cast its net wide and is understood to have been in contact with at least one Ferrari driver.
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen, #51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photo by: AG Photo - Daniele Paglino
Ferrari renewed the contracts of six drivers from its sportscar roster, including Fuoco and Molina, late last year.
Pier Guidi and Calado signed new deals late in 2023 and Nielsen early in ’24.
Ferrari traditionally describes the arrangements as multi-year extensions without being specific.
Photos from 24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
24 Hours of Le Mans – Wednesday
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.- The Motorsport.com Team
Share Or Save This Story
Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours
The strategic gamble that ended BMW's WEC winless streak
The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006
Ferrari explains where Toyota gained the upper hand in Imola WEC opener
Risi Competizione ready for return to Rolex 24 after one-year hiatus
Alessandro Pier Guidi tells young drivers to consider WEC: ‘We are closing the gap to F1’
Lewis Hamilton Ferrari simulator decision branded "quite damning" after Canada breakthrough
Lewis Hamilton hailed after Canadian GP drive that 'got inside Charles Leclerc's head'
How Ferrari and Audi could decide Max Verstappen's F1 future
Latest news
WRC Rally Japan: Elfyn Evans leads Sebastien Ogier after Oliver Solberg’s dramatic exit
Mercedes pulls out of Alpine F1 share talks over asking price
MotoGP Italian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia front-row lockout
How the FIA is limiting F1 cars’ top speed at Monaco GP with new engine maps
Feature
Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours
The strategic gamble that ended BMW's WEC winless streak
Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties
How Genesis is building up to a long-term future in the WEC
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Top Comments