As the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) arrives at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari for the 6 Hours of Imola, Head of Ferrari Endurance Race Cars Ferdinando Cannizzo has made Ferrari’s mindset crystal clear. Despite a dominant 2025 campaign, the Italian manufacturer refuses to dwell on past achievements.
After all, Ferrari swept the Drivers’ Championship top three, secured the Manufacturers’ title and clinched the Hypercar Teams’ World Cup with AF Corse. Nevertheless, Cannizzo insists that success only raises expectations rather than guarantees future results.
Speaking to fiawec.com ahead of Saturday’s running, he explained that the team continues to rebuild from the ground up each season, maintaining humility while pursuing perfection in every area.
“In endurance racing as in any competition, previous success guarantees nothing; if anything, it raises the bar.”
A philosophy rooted in detail and discipline
Rather than relying on past dominance, Ferrari has doubled down on its core philosophy. Cannizzo emphasises that the team focuses on extracting maximum performance from its current package rather than chasing radical reinvention.
“Our target will be to extract the absolute maximum from the package we have today, race after race,” he stated. “Our approach is the same that allowed us to build the foundations of last season’s results.”
This disciplined approach reflects Ferrari’s belief that sustained success in endurance racing depends on consistency, precision and continuous refinement.
A reworked Ferrari 499P for a new era in WEC
While Ferrari’s philosophy remains unchanged, however,, its Ferrari 499P has undergone significant revision. Following a mandatory aerodynamic re-homologation imposed by the FIA and ACO, every Hypercar had to adapt to a new performance window.
Consequently, Cannizzo and his team refined key aerodynamic elements without altering the car’s core concept. They concentrated on subtle but critical areas such as the underfloor and aerodynamic appendages.
“We focused on details, particularly on the underfloor and front and rear-end devices like gurneys and flicks. The goal was twofold – to preserve the strengths of the existing aero map and exploit this mandatory reset to refine certain behaviours of the car.”
Importantly, Ferrari chose not to deploy EVO jokers during the winter development phase. Instead, the team prioritised optimisation, analysing the 2025 season in meticulous detail. Cannizzo highlighted how engineers examined performance “corner-by-corner, sector-by-sector,” especially at circuits where Ferrari faced challenges.
“The work was focused on investigating the areas of set-up domain not yet explored, trying to understand if and how those unused set-ups could represent an improvement on a specific track, if not on peak performance, on consistency and tyre management.
“Performance is the sum of countless small details, most of which are not visible externally. That is where we concentrated our efforts.”
Tyre challenge adds early uncertainty but stability remains a competitive advantage
However, Ferrari faces a potential disadvantage with the introduction of new Michelin Pilot Sport Endurance tyres. Unlike some rivals, the team has yet to complete a fully comprehensive test programme with the updated compounds.
Although recent outings in Qatar and Imola provided useful data, Cannizzo acknowledged that further work remains necessary to fully optimise performance. He said, “The recent tests we carried out in Qatar and at Imola gave us some useful indications, and we made good progress in matching our car with the new tyre range, but we still have work to do.”
However, while technical changes present challenges, Ferrari benefits from exceptional continuity. Its factory driver line-ups remain unchanged for a fourth consecutive season—an unusual level of stability in top-tier endurance racing. Cannizzo believes this consistency fosters stronger collaboration and deeper understanding within the team.
“Stability allows us to work with a shared language and a deep understanding of both the car and the processes. The human and personal relationship created between the whole team and the drivers is something that goes beyond the simple professional relationship. This makes the working atmosphere always very pleasant and, sometimes, even jovial.”
Home race adds emotional motivation as Ferrari prepares for 2026 WEC campaign ahead
Racing at Imola carries special significance for Ferrari. Located just an hour from Maranello, the circuit provides a home backdrop for the Italian marque and its passionate supporters. Cannizzo recognised the emotional weight of competing there as reigning world champions.
“Imola is always special, but arriving as world champions makes it even more emotional,” he said. “Of course, we want to begin the season in the right way, in front of our supporters.”
Looking beyond Imola, Ferrari must quickly prepare for the season’s centrepiece: the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With only two six-hour races before the iconic event, teams face limited opportunities to refine their packages. Cannizzo stressed that early races serve a dual purpose—achieving results while gathering crucial data for simulation and development.
“Everything we do in the early races must be targeted not only at optimising the performance for Imola and Spa, but also at gathering reliable inputs for our simulation, knowing that the car configuration and optimal set-up at a high-efficiency track such as Le Mans are completely different from those that we use at the other tracks in the championship.”
Finally, Cannizzo anticipates an even tougher 2026 campaign. The arrival of Genesis Magma Racing and extensive updates from rival manufacturers promise a highly competitive field. As a result, Ferrari expects tight battles, evolving conditions and minimal margins for error throughout the season.
“We expect very tight races, constant adaptation to evolving track and tyre conditions, and a season where operational precision will be just as decisive as pure performance. We arrive in 2026 fully aware of the challenge ahead. We know we will be the reference point for many of our competitors, and that motivates us.”
Precision will define success
Ultimately, Ferrari enters the new season not as a complacent champion but as a focused contender determined to improve. While rivals close the gap, the Italian marque relies on discipline, detail and teamwork to stay ahead.
If Cannizzo’s assessment proves accurate, the 2026 FIA WEC season could deliver one of the most competitive and technically fascinating battles in recent history.
