499P'S QATAR DOMINANCE AND THE RACE OF OTHERS

The 2025 Endurance World Championship kicks off with a crushing triumph for Ferrari. The 499P dominated the 1812 km of Lusail, monopolizing the entire podium and leaving little room for competitors. A clear victory, but far from smooth: the race was marked by contacts, technical issues, and penalties that put the resilience of the Maranello machines to the test. Despite these challenges, the drivers in red always found a way to climb back up the ranks, ultimately securing a flawless result. The three safety cars helped keep the pack close, but the general feeling was that, even without neutralizations, victory would have remained in Ferrari’s hands.

Among the protagonists, the #51 had an especially eventful race: after serving multiple penalties, it found itself buried in the mid-pack but managed to climb back to the front with a masterful performance. Toyota and BMW tried to challenge the Italian dominance, and at one point, an attack on the two leading Ferraris seemed possible. However, in the end, the superiority of the 499P prevailed.

For the competition, there was little left to claim. BMW finished fourth and seventh—results that might seem disappointing compared to their qualifying performance. However, race pace was far from exceptional, and without Dries Vanthoor’s outstanding final stint in the #15, the result could have been even worse.

Toyota, for its part, salvaged a fifth and sixth-place finish—a haul that felt like a lucky break given their struggles in testing and qualifying. As always, the Japanese manufacturer managed the race well, extracting the maximum possible under the circumstances.

Cadillac’s weekend was more disappointing. The American team appeared to be Ferrari’s only real challenger in testing and practice, but in the race, their pace failed to meet expectations. A collision didn’t help their cause, but even after rejoining, their recovery never truly took off, culminating in a modest eighth-place finish.

Peugeot capitalized on others' mistakes to secure ninth place, but the performance of the 9X8 was underwhelming. Without the misfortunes of rivals, their result would have been much worse. Things went even more poorly for Porsche, with the two 963s finishing in tenth and eleventh. In 2024, the German team had dominated in Qatar thanks to their superior tire management, but this year, unexpectedly low temperatures threw a wrench into their plans. Keeping the tires in the right temperature window was a nightmare, stripping Porsche of one of its key strengths.

Alpine also suffered in the cold. In the early hours of the race, they looked like podium contenders, but as night fell, they tumbled down the standings. The French team admitted they were unable to make the tires work at lower temperatures, turning a promising race into a disappointment.

Finally, Aston Martin—a case of postponed judgment rather than outright failure. The team needs mileage to develop their car, but driver errors certainly didn’t help. Pushing with a door wide open is hardly a winning strategy.

The first round of the 2025 World Championship has delivered a clear verdict: Ferrari is here, and they are formidable. If their rivals want to avoid a one-sided season, they will need to step up their game quickly.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri