Ferrari in pole position at the 6 Hours of Imola 2026

Imola, 18 April 2026 - The 2026 season of the FIA World Endurance Championship kicks off with a Ferrari on pole position at the 6 Hours of Imola, thanks to the result achieved by Antonio Giovinazzi with the number 51 499P during the Hyperpole contested at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Third on the grid, meanwhile, for the other car of the official Ferrari – AF Corse team, number 50, entrusted in Saturday’s decisive session to Antonio Fuoco. Fourth row, finally, for the number 83 Ferrari entered by AF Corse by virtue of the time set by Robert Kubica. The 6 Hours of Imola will kick off tomorrow, 19 April, at 1.00 p.m. (local time).

Repeat performance. For the second consecutive year Giovinazzi set the fastest time in front of the Italian Tifosi, qualifying the 499P he shares with Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado ahead of everyone. The number 51 crew, which last year was crowned World Drivers’ champion, thus secures its fourth pole position; the total number of Hyperpoles recorded by the 499P since its racing debut, dating back to the 2023 season, rises to 9: four by Fuoco–Molina–Nielsen, as many by Pier Guidi–Calado–Giovinazzi, and one by the number 83 Ferrari.

Minimal gaps. The cars of the Maranello Manufacturer delivered positive performances on a Saturday marked by extremely small gaps between competitors. During the qualifying sessions, in dry track conditions and with air and asphalt temperatures of around 25° and 42°C respectively, Fuoco set the fastest time, completing a lap at Imola in 1’30”088, ahead of Kubica, adrift by 0”127; Giovinazzi fifth (+0”253).

The Italian driver, therefore, in the decisive session reserved for the ten fastest cars, on his final available attempt managed to stop the clocks at 1’30”127, taking pole position, while Fuoco classified third, just 0”040 behind his teammate. The number 83 Ferrari of Kubica, crewed with official drivers of the Prancing Horse Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson, will start eighth (+0”381).

Antonio Giovinazzi, 499P #51: “It was a fantastic and very intense day, with a Hyperpole where only on the final attempt did I manage to put together what I would call an almost perfect lap. I couldn’t be happier to have secured another pole position in front of our Tifosi. Looking ahead to tomorrow, I expect a certainly difficult race, with several rivals capable of fighting for the very top positions, and the weather variable that could prove decisive. We are expecting a closely fought 6 Hours of Imola, and we hope it will be a memorable race for all the fans who come to support Ferrari.”

Antonio Fuoco, 499P #50: “Both the qualifying sessions and the Hyperpole were very enjoyable sessions. In the latter I made a small mistake, without which I might have taken pole position, but overall we are in a good position, and I am happy for the team, considering we will start first and third with the number 50 and 51 499Ps. We are aware that the race will be difficult and that the gaps between competitors are close; moreover, rain is expected during the six hours, which could make the race even more complex. We will do our best to enjoy a great Sunday in front of the Italian Tifosi.”

Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Endurance and Corse Clienti: “Today we saw how close the gaps are between us and several rivals: we were aware of that and that made this pole position with the number 51 499P even more rewarding. We are pleased to have two Ferraris in the top three on the starting grid at a circuit like Imola, where overtaking is very difficult and grid position can be a very important factor; the only regret concerns the number 83 499P which, despite performing well in all the sessions, could not go beyond eighth place. We are aware that the 6 Hours of Imola will be a long and complex race, but we hope to deliver an excellent performance for our Tifosi”.

Ferdinando Cannizzo, Head of Endurance Race Cars: “The pole position of the number 51 499P is the result of great teamwork and an excellent execution by Antonio in a very closely fought session. The margin is minimal and, like qualifying, the race will be just as closely contested and open until the very end. With weather expected to be variable and possible rain conditions in the afternoon, the management of strategy, tyres and traffic will be crucial”.

18 aprile 2026