Antonio Fuoco, representing Ferrari AF Corse, spoke to the press during the post-qualifying press conference about the slower lap times in the qualifying for the TotalEnergies 2024 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. According to Fuoco, track conditions and weather played a significant role in the decrease in lap times compared to the previous year’s race.
Fuoco highlighted the difference in conditions between this year and the last, stating that the weather was much colder in the previous edition. Despite this, the driver of Ferrari #50 499P managed to secure pole position with a time of 2:02.600, putting him over half a second ahead of Matt Campbell from Porsche.
The Italian driver also noted that even the GT cars were slower this year, which he attributed to track conditions and potentially the weather. Fuoco speculated that the track may not be in ideal conditions, affecting overall performance.
Comparing his lap time to the previous year’s pole lap set by Kamui Kobayashi from Toyota, Fuoco’s time was 1.8 seconds slower, indicating a significant difference in performance.
Fuoco explained that the colder weather allows cars to be pushed harder, as it reduces the risk of engine and tire overheating. This allows tires to stay within the ideal temperature range for a longer period.
Despite the slower lap times, Fuoco expressed satisfaction with his performance, considering it a good lap. He believed that his starting position would be advantageous for the race, although he recognized the challenging nature of the event and the importance of tire management.
The high-energy nature of the Spa circuit puts significant stress on the tires, making tire management and degradation a crucial topic of discussion. Fuoco emphasized the difficulty of keeping the tires in good condition throughout the race and acknowledged the need for effective management.
In conclusion, Fuoco expressed confidence in the team’s efforts to improve the car’s performance during the session and looked forward to seeing how they would fare against their competitors in the race.
