Ferrari’s Historic 1-2-3 Finish Dominates Qatar WEC Season Opener
The 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) roared to life with an electrifying season opener at the Qatar 1812km race. Ferrari delivered a dominant performance, securing a historic 1-2-3 finish—its first in a major endurance race since the legendary 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. This remarkable achievement reaffirmed Ferrari’s resurgence in endurance racing and sent a strong message to its competitors.
Ferrari’s Strong Qualifying Performance
The weekend kicked off with Ferrari showcasing its intent right from the qualifying session. Antonio Giovinazzi, at the wheel of the #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P Hypercar, put in a sensational lap to claim pole position. The sister #50 Ferrari, driven by Antonio Fuoco, also showed competitive pace, securing a front-row start. Meanwhile, the privately-run #83 AF Corse Ferrari, featuring a mix of experienced and young talent, lined up close behind, promising an exciting race ahead.
Race Day: Ferrari’s Commanding Display
As the race unfolded, all three Ferrari Hypercars demonstrated exceptional speed, consistency, and reliability. The #51 car, driven by Giovinazzi, James Calado, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, initially led the pack, setting the pace early on. However, a drive-through penalty for Giovinazzi—issued for an infringement under Virtual Safety Car conditions—dropped them to the lower end of the top ten.
Seizing the opportunity, the #83 AF Corse entry, piloted by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Philip Hanson, took the lead. Meanwhile, the #50 Ferrari, driven by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, and Nicklas Nielsen, remained in the hunt despite a minor setback when it was involved in a spin following contact with the #15 BMW.
The battle for the lead intensified in the latter half of the race, with the #83 and #50 Ferraris exchanging positions in a fierce yet respectful contest. As the final pit stops approached, Antonio Fuoco in the #50 delivered a masterclass in racecraft, executing a well-timed overtake on Kubica and maintaining the lead until the checkered flag.
The race concluded with the #50 Ferrari securing victory, followed closely by the #83 and the recovering #51, sealing a historic clean sweep for Ferrari. The triumph underlined the team’s meticulous preparation, strategic excellence, and ability to handle pressure at the highest level of endurance racing.
Driver Reactions
Antonio Fuoco, who drove the winning #50 Ferrari, was elated with the team’s performance. “First of all, I’d like to thank the whole team for everybody’s work over the winter. We prepared really well, and while we had some ups and downs in the race, in the end, it obviously worked out well. This is a fantastic result for Ferrari,” he said.
Robert Kubica, who secured second place with the #83 AF Corse Ferrari, showcased resilience under pressure, fending off a late charge from Pier Guidi in the #51. The close finish highlighted the competitive spirit within the Ferrari camp and the high level of performance across all three cars.
Challenges for Other Manufacturers
While Ferrari celebrated an unforgettable result, its rivals faced a challenging race. BMW M Team WRT’s #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, and former Formula 1 star Kevin Magnussen, finished fourth. Their race was marred by technical issues, including a pit speed limiter malfunction and a collision with an LMGT3 car, which hindered their chances of challenging Ferrari.
Defending Manufacturers’ champion Toyota had a difficult outing, finishing fifth and sixth with their GR010 Hybrids. The #8 car led home the #7 entry, but starting from the back row of the grid left them with an uphill battle throughout the race. Despite their struggles, Toyota remains a formidable competitor, and they will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back in the upcoming rounds.
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA also experienced a turbulent race. Despite showing flashes of pace, their chances of a strong finish were dashed when teammates Alex Lynn and Jenson Button made contact during a safety car restart, ultimately relegating them to eighth place.
LMGT3 Category: Corvette’s Triumph
The LMGT3 category provided its own share of thrilling action. TF Sport’s #33 Corvette, driven by Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar, and Ben Keating, emerged victorious after an intense battle. Starting from 13th on the grid, the team displayed remarkable perseverance and skill, with Juncadella holding off a late challenge from McLaren’s Grégoire Saucy in the final hour of the race.
Reflecting on the tense finish, Juncadella said, “Looking at my heart rate, I think that in the closing stages of the race, I was on average 35 bpm higher than during the first stint, so that tells you pretty much everything!” Their victory was particularly impressive given the stiff competition and their lower starting position.
Looking Ahead: A Fierce Season Awaits
Ferrari’s dominant display in Qatar has set a high benchmark for the 2025 WEC season. Their ability to execute a flawless race and secure a historic 1-2-3 finish has positioned them as the team to beat. However, the season is long, and with manufacturers like Toyota, BMW, and Cadillac eager to respond, the competition is bound to intensify.
The next round of the 2025 FIA WEC campaign, the 6 Hours of Imola in Italy, is scheduled for April 18-20. Teams will undoubtedly analyze their performances in Qatar, aiming to refine their strategies and challenge Ferrari’s early dominance.
As the season unfolds, fans can expect high-intensity battles, strategic masterstrokes, and the unpredictability that endurance racing is known for. Ferrari’s historic achievement in Qatar is just the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating season.
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