Since its highly anticipated debut in the Hypercar class in 2023, Ferrari has only risen in the ranks of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). On the heels of a first season highlight winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, followed by a solid 2024 showing, the Italian carmaker is taking on this year with even more vigor and resolve. Here is a look at the development of the Ferrari 499P and the fine-tuning undertaken to place it squarely as a contender for the world title in the upcoming season.

<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-ferrari-unveils-the-499p-hypercar-56769" target="_blank">Ferrari&#39;s Hypercar programme was launched without pulling any punches</a>. Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti:&nbsp;&ldquo;2025 will see us in our third consecutive year in the top class of the FIA WEC, aiming to build on all the strong results we have achieved so far and, above all, become even more consistent. In previous seasons, we experienced highs and lows &ndash; mainly because 2023 was our debut year, and in 2024, the team had to continue progressing within a category that was still new to us.&quot;

Thanks to intensive development, Ferrari quickly demonstrated its potential by securing&nbsp;a historic victory at&nbsp;the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le Mans Centenary in 2023. But, it hasn&#39;t all benn smooth sailing against top notch competition. Coletta: &quot;In previous seasons, we experienced highs and lows, mainly because 2023 was our debut year, and in 2024, the team had to continue progressing within a category that was still new to us. This learning phase has continued, and in the 2025 season, I hope we can be front-runners in the fight for the world championship title.&quot;

<h2>Ferrari Focuses on Technical optimisation and Reliability</h2>

To close the gap with its rivals and gain consistency, Ferrari has focused on improving the reliability and performance of the 499P.&nbsp;Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars:&nbsp;&ldquo;Over the winter, we worked on the car and all our operational tools, seeking to optimise them in every area while improving our racing team. From the second half of the 2024 season onwards, we introduced many modifications to the car, all compliant with the regulations. Half of these focused on improving reliability, around a quarter on regulatory updates, while for the rest, we sought to optimise all areas where we found performance gaps with our competitors.&quot;

But, it doesn&#39;t stop there. Throughout the winter break, the Italian manufactuer dedicated itself to a&nbsp;multi-pronged approach. Cannizzo: &quot;Over the winter break, we worked hard to expand the set-up window, evaluating new philosophies aimed at better exploitation of the aerodynamics on the one hand and of tyre performance in all conditions on the other. To complement all this, we are committed to the continuous development of control systems. This aspect continues to improve across all areas to enhance precision and provide ever-faster responses to driver inputs.&quot;

<h2>What Will 2025 Bring?</h2>

With these adjustments, Ferrari hopes to reach a decisive milestone in 2025. Coletta: &quot;We have to be humble, as we are competing against many manufacturers in this championship, some of whom are more experienced than us, having been involved in this category for much longer. We have made several organisational changes and continue to do so. I believe we have taken a crucial step forward, particularly in our technical knowledge of the car.&quot;

As we gear up for yet another&nbsp;fierce Hypercar season,&nbsp;Ferrari plans to bring&nbsp;a more finessed car and better-prepared team. While arguable&nbsp;that the&nbsp;499P still has&nbsp;room for improvement, the Hypercar&#39;s expedited&nbsp;development does indeed make it&nbsp;a serious contender for the world title and a third consecutive win at the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans. All eyes on the 499P at the first round of the 2025 FIA WEC season at the Qatar 1812 km on&nbsp;28 February.

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FIRST LOOK: The 2025 Ferrari 499P Hypercar

Découvrez la livrée 2025 de la Ferrari 499P Hypercar

A behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 Ferrari 499P's development

Ferrari has unveiled the livery of the 499P Hypercars that will run for the Ferrari AF Corse works team in the  2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11-15 June).

While erring on the side of continuity, the Ferrari 499P&rsquo;s new livery renders the Italian Hypercar instantly recognisable. And yet, closer examination reveals a modernised paint scheme. The 499P&rsquo;s body is still predominantly red, but is a deeper hue (inspired by models from bygone eras), and contrasts smartly with the repositioned touches of Giallo Modena yellow in a nod to the success of the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-the-unflinching-ferrari-312-pb-prototype-56986" target="_blank">312 PB</a>, the Ferrari prototype that competed until 1973. The cockpit retains the yellow diagonal stripe seen on the 499P since 2023, but this feature now extends across the side pods instead of the lower side. This change is designed to maximise visibility and offer grandstand spectators a striking visual experience.

For the Qatar 1812km, the opening round of the 2025 season, the #50 and #51 Ferrari 499Ps will line up with the technical evolution package launched in S&atilde;o Paulo (Brazil) last term. The mid-season updates included a revised brake cooling duct system and the addition of flicks under the front headlamps to boost the car&rsquo;s aerodynamics.

<h2>Technical improvements to strengthen the title challenge</h2>

Ferrari&rsquo;s winter workload aimed at optimising the overall technical package in the authorised track testing sessions and in the simulator. In a statement, the team also evoked &ldquo;meticulous refinements within regulatory limits&rdquo; to tweak every aspect where performance lagged behind that of their rivals.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The driver line-ups remain unchanged for 2025. The #50 car will once again be entrusted to Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ferrari-af-corse-a-breathtaking-triumph-at-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-59179" target="_blank">winners of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans</a>. Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado and&nbsp;Antonio Giovinazzi will share the wheel of the #51 sister car.

With a third place in the Manufacturers&rsquo; world championship in 2024, after finishing as runners-up in 2023, Ferrari&rsquo;s aim for 2025 is to clock up precious points at every round and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ferrari-af-corse-aware-of-having-more-steps-to-take-to-compete-for-titles-59164" target="_blank">fight for the manufacturers&#39; and drivers&#39; titles</a>. Victory would offer the Prancing Horse its first world endurance crown since it triumphed in the World Championship for Makes in 1972.

Ferrari AF Corse introduces minor changes to refresh 499P Hypercar livery

"Le Mans isn’t won in a single moment. It’s a series of moments, each as crucial as the next.." said Tom Kristensen, a record nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This perspective perfectly reflects the philosophy behind Automobilist’s ongoing partnership with 24H Le Mans—continuing a successful collaboration that celebrates the race’s most iconic moments through art.

In 2023, when Le Mans celebrated its historic 100th anniversary, Automobilist marked the occasion with a special Centenary Collection, capturing a century of endurance racing excellence.&nbsp;

 
Building on the success of 2023 and 2024, Automobilist proudly renews its partnership with 24H Le Mans, reaffirming a shared passion for preserving the legacy of endurance racing. From the fierce rivalry between Ferrari and Porsche to the thunderous dominance of the Ford GT40 on the Mulsanne Straight, Le Mans has created moments that resonate far beyond the track. Through this renewed collaboration, Automobilist aims to continue immortalizing these moments, turning fleeting seconds of triumph into lasting works of art. 
Since the inception of the partnership, Automobilist has stood out by crafting exquisitely detailed posters and collector&rsquo;s editions that encapsulate the essence of Le Mans. Each piece merges historical authenticity with artistic excellence, ensuring that every creation pays homage to the spirit of endurance racing. 
 
According to&nbsp;Brent Costner, CEO of Automobilist,&nbsp;&quot;Le Mans is more than just a race&mdash;it is a testament to endurance, resilience, and the human spirit&rsquo;s unwavering drive to achieve the extraordinary. Our partnership with 24H Le Mans allows us to continue our mission of immortalizing these defining moments in motorsport history through art.&quot; 
 
The renewed partnership promises a series of new releases that will evoke the raw emotion and timeless allure of Le Mans. Whether commemorating legendary duels or modern feats of engineering, Automobilist will continue to create exclusive artworks that capture the soul of the race. 
 
St&eacute;phane Andriolo, Customer and Events Director of Automobile Club de l&#39;Ouest says:&nbsp;&ldquo;We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Automobilist. This brand is a perfect reflection of our prestigious race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In this golden age of endurance racing, which welcomes the world&#39;s leading brands, we are keen to offer our fans unique collector&#39;s items. See you next June for a new edition that promises to be out of the ordinary.&rdquo; 
 
For those who admire endurance racing and cherish the stories forged on the track, Automobilist&rsquo;s renewed partnership with 24H Le Mans is an invitation to relive and celebrate the moments that have shaped the world of motorsport. 
For more information about Automobilist&rsquo;s 24H Le Mans collection, visit: <a href="http://automobilist.com/en-eu/collections/24h-le-mans-posters">automobilist.com/en-eu/collections/24h-le-mans-posters</a>

Automobilist and 24 Hours of Le Mans Renew Partnership to Celebrate Racing Excellence

This season, the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans welcome a new partnership to the LMGT3 field: Iron Lynx and Mercedes-AMG. The Italian outfit has joined forces with the German manufacturer to bring two new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3s to the grid. An ambitious alliance that marks Mercedes’ return to Le Mans after more than a quarter of a century.

A regular name on GT and LMP2 rosters, Iron Lynx has opted to take up <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/mercedes-amg-set-to-join-lmgt3-class-at-24-hours-of-le-mans-and-in-fia-wec-59151" target="_blank">a new challenge in 2025 with&nbsp;Mercedes-AMG</a>. After running Ferraris from 2020 to 2022, followed by a Porsche 911 RSR-19 in 2023 and a Lamborghini Hurac&aacute;n LMGT3 Evo2 in 2024, the Italian formation has turned to Mercedes for this LMGT3 programme with the firm aim of showing its credentials and winning races.

Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO: &quot;We are very satisfied with how the driver lineup has shaped up, and for the positive collaboration that we have established so far with Mercedes-AMG as we prepare for this new programme. So far we have really enjoyed working on the process and preparations.&quot;

<h2>Seasoned professionals and burgeoning talent</h2>

Iron Lynx has brought together a mix of experienced drivers and talented youngsters for the project. The #60 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 will see Claudio Schiavoni and Matteo Cressoni continue together for a fifth FIA WEC season. They will be joined by the former Lamborghini Hypercar driver Matteo Cairoli (eight 24 Hours of Le Mans starts). 
In sister car #61, Christian Ried will make a full-time return to the championship after taking a back seat in 2024. The record holder for the number of FIA WEC starts will partner Mercedes-AMG works driver and GT stalwart Maxime Martin. Eighteen-year-old Dutch hope Lin Hodenius completes the line-up.

Regarding these strategic choices, Piccini said: &ldquo;On the one hand, we will continue with the experienced combination of Claudio and Matteo, and we will add Matteo Cairoli, a really quick driver with a wealth of FIA WEC experience. On the other hand, we will bring back the driver with the most starts in the series, Christian Ried, pairing him with a young racer entering his rookie season, Lin Hodenius. He was extremely impressive straight away in testing and we selected him among all potential candidates despite his young age and limited endurance racing experience. Joining him and Ried, Maxime Martin will provide incredible value. In addition to being a long-time friend, he is one of the world&rsquo;s strongest competitors in endurance racing.&rdquo;

<h2>A historic return to Le Mans for Mercedes-AMG</h2>

This programme marks the eagerly awaited return of Mercedes-AMG to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With their last official entry dating back to 1999, the German manufacturer hopes to make a stunning impact with the Mercedes-AMG GT3. 
The Iron Lynx cars will sport special liveries that pay tribute to the historic colours of the team and Mercedes-AMG.

Iron Lynx and Mercedes-AMG hold lofty ambitions for the FIA WEC 2025 season and especially its showcase event, the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans (11&ndash;15 June).

Iron Lynx teams up with Mercedes-AMG for LMGT3 challenge

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		Photo : Arnaud CORNILLEAU - ACO/Nikon
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	After a run of outstanding quality with the rest of the crew (Olivier Beretta, Antonio Garcia and Tommy Milner) of the #73 Corvette was imposed.</h2>

	Antonio Garcia: &quot;The victory is the best way to celebrate ten years of Corvette&#39;s first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We had a plan: to attack as much as possible and we&#39;re honored. I think we really deserve the victory because Olivier was ill last night, we shared the driving with Tommy (Milner) and it was very hard. &quot;

	Tommy Milner: &quot;To be American and be part of an American team is great. With 100th birthday Corvette, victory is unbelievable. This is my first year with Corvette Racing, but also at Le Mans. I went on many big events like Indy 500 or the 24 Hours of Daytona, but I&#39;ve never known such an atmosphere. The fans actually follow their driver or team. Parade of drivers and the start of the race makes it very special. &quot;

	Olivier Beretta: &quot;Victory is very nice because several teams could win. It is even more beautiful with the Corvette makes the LM GTE Am I sick after inhaling exhaust fumes behind the safety car. I tried to take my place in the morning, but I was not feeling very well and Tommy and Antonio did the job for me over the last two hours. I happened to have to do the job for another and this time it was me. After three consecutive years without a win, we were lucky. To win at Le Mans, it is not enough to have the best car, best-refueling stops or the best crews: it takes luck. &quot;

	Interview by C&eacute;cile Bonardel

24H LE MANS

Reactions of LM GTE Pro winners

After a run of outstanding quality with the rest of the crew (Olivier Beretta, Antonio Garcia and Tommy Milner) of the #73 Corvette was imposed.

Related News

A behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 Ferrari 499P's development

Ferrari AF Corse introduces minor changes to refresh 499P Hypercar livery

Automobilist and 24 Hours of Le Mans Renew Partnership to Celebrate Racing Excellence

Iron Lynx teams up with Mercedes-AMG for LMGT3 challenge

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