Antonio Giovinazzi secured Ferrari's front-row start for the 6 Hours of Austin after setting an identical time to the thousandth of a second as Jack Aitken's Cadillac #38. The advantage came thanks to the Italian driver completing his fast lap earlier in a Hyperpole session that was intense amid constantly changing wind conditions.
Early Pit Exit Strategy Proves Decisive
The decision to leave the pits early proved to be a crucial differentiator. With identical times, the rule favors the driver who set the time first, and Giovinazzi used it perfectly to bring the 499P #51 to its third pole of the season.
For the Maranello squad, this result is more than just an ideal starting position. It is valuable capital to keep hopes alive of defending the title that the #51 car won last year at the same circuit.
Disappointment on the Other Side of the Ferrari Garage
Behind the pole euphoria, there is regret for the #50 car, which had to settle for fifth place. Its performance in the early qualifying session was very promising, but losing grip during Hyperpole prevented it from showing its full potential.
Antonello Coletta, Ferrari's Endurance chief, emphasized that starting at the front is a major advantage given that the first corner at the Circuit of the Americas is often a lottery. Now the team's focus shifts to tire management to maintain consistency throughout the six-hour race.
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