Returning to the #50 Ferrari 499P, Miguel Molina scored a prestigious podium finish at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with Nicklas Nielsen and Antonio Fuoco. Pole, strategic management and second place at the finish line: the Ferrari – AF Corse crew turned in a strong performance in Belgium to move back into contention for the world title just weeks ahead of the season’s flagship race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Barcelona, Imola, Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps… Miguel Molina returned last weekend to the Ferrari 499P and the FIA World Endurance Championship for his fourth race in just six weeks. On the iconic Belgian track, where he had finished on the podium last year, the Catalan driver approached the race with his sights set firmly on a place among the frontrunners.
The #50 Ferrari – AF Corse crew of Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen and Antonio Fuoco quickly found their groove on a track partially resurfaced compared to last year. Right from the start, the trio made their mark on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, dominating FP1 and FP3 and finishing second in FP2. With 82 laps completed, including 25 for Miguel Molina, the team fine-tuned its setup before mastering qualifying and the Hyperpole with pole position in 1m59.617s.
On Saturday, Nicklas Nielsen got off to a perfect start, avoiding the first-lap pitfalls to keep the #50 Ferrari 499P in the lead. After an hour and 20 minutes, Miguel Molina took over the Dane. Focused and incisive, the Spanish driver drove a solid double stint, punctuated by a long battle with the #36 Alpine. Although he slipped to second place after his rivals made an undercut, the Ferrari factory driver stayed in contact before handing over to Antonio Fuoco.
« I was pretty happy with my stints », says Miguel Molina. « The car felt great, and I was comfortable and competitive, especially during the first one, as we led the race with a solid pace and managed to build a decent gap. We opted for a longer stint strategy, which unfortunately allowed the Alpine to undercut us and take track position at that moment. Still, we kept everything under control and maintained a good pace with a good strategy. »
In an increasingly strategic battle, Antonio Fuoco began a methodical comeback, gaining several positions to reclaim second place. With just over 100 minutes left on the clock, he regained the lead before setting a measured but sustained pace to extend his lead before Nicklas Nielsen returned to the track. The Dane displayed an impressive energy and tyre management in the final hour to optimise his strategy and avoid a final pit-stop. When the strategies came together, the #50 Ferrari saw the #51 sister car emerge from the pits in the lead after a blistering pit stop. Nevertheless, the crew resisted the attacks from the #36 Alpine to secure second place and deliver a resounding one-two finish for Ferrari.
« Overall, it was a solid weekend as we led the race from the beginning and did a fantastic job to finish second, which is a good result even though we were hoping to win », confides Miguel Molina. « We tried to avoid a final splash, which in hindsight may have cost us the win, but what matters is the bigger picture. We scored another podium, continued to show our pace and consistency, and, most importantly, helped the team secure a one-two finish. We expected a bit more, but second place is a strong result, and we scored a significant number of championship points, especially for the Manufacturers’ title, Ferrari’s primary objective this year. It was a good day for Ferrari. »
Thanks to this solid result, Miguel Molina, Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen move up to second place in the overall FIA World Endurance Championship standings, just a few points behind their teammates in the #51 Ferrari – AF Corse. Ferrari claimed its third consecutive victory of the season and strengthens its lead in the Manufacturers’ standings ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (6-15 June). The world’s premier endurance race, which Miguel Molina and his teammates won in 2024, will offer double points and will already be crucial in the title race.
« We’ve had good form in recent races, and we’ll carry this extremely valuable momentum heading into the most important race of the year at Le Mans », concludes Miguel Molina. « That race is always special. It is a real test for the teams, drivers, and cars. We know it will be tough, but we’re focused, motivated, and looking forward to giving everything we have to fight at the front again. »
6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps : 1. Ferrari – AF Corse #51 ; 2. Ferrari – AF Corse #50…
FIA Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Championship : 1. Calado / Giovinazzi / Pier Guidi 75 points ; 2. Fuoco / Molina / Nielsen 57 points…
FIA Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship : 1. Ferrari 136 points ; 2. Toyota 71 points ; 3. BMW 64 points…
Blanca de Foronda,