“I feel right this moment this made a little bit of a distinction in comparison with the opposite opponents as a result of we noticed that the Porsche was pushing sooner than us and possibly burdened a bit extra tyres,” stated Fuoco.
“This was our technique from FP3 that we tried earlier. It was working fairly nicely and we did it once more within the quali, and it was okay. So I feel right this moment we perceive a bit greater than the others on the right way to handle the tyres.”
Fuoco defined that Ferrari had “already deliberate this morning” that it could do two warmup laps “to convey the tyres into the temperature fairly simply” and keep away from overstressing the tyres.
Explaining his lap, which adopted setting the quickest time in ultimate observe on Saturday morning, Fuoco stated: “The sensation was already good from this morning in FP3, so I simply tried to maintain the focus excessive, tried to place every thing collectively.
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
Picture by: Emanuele Clivati | AG Picture
“It’s at all times tough once you go on qualifying with the site visitors and every thing, however I feel the hole was actually good and I simply put a very good lap collectively.
“It was fairly a particular lap as at all times, however I feel right this moment in entrance of our Tifosi, our house race, I’ve an additional increase and I simply push 100% from the start till the top of the quali.”
He added: “The sensation was good already from contained in the automobile, it was an excellent lap already the primary one, however then I discovered some small particulars on the second push and I gained one other two-tenths.”
Shwartzman was competing in Hyperpole for the primary time after fellow Ferrari manufacturing facility driver Yifei Ye took on qualifying duties within the WEC’s Qatar season-opener.
He informed Autosport that he was happy to make the entrance row given his inexperience.
“Actually solely the final lap was an honest one, nevertheless it was not adequate for pole,” stated Shwartzman. “For my first quali, I feel the entrance row is kind of good.
“Antonio did a very good clear lap, however i didn’t handle to try this. That’s the distinction between P1 and P2.
#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
Picture by: JEP / Motorsport Images
“He has the expertise of how this automobile behaves on new tyres after doing all of the qualifying final yr, so he has fairly a giant benefit in that sense.
“So for him, it was a lot simpler, however I consider I can enhance that.”
Pier Guidi stated he had “struggled a bit” on the push lap however reckons “in race tempo, we’re nonetheless robust, we’re stronger I feel”.
“I’m assured for tomorrow, P3 is an effective beginning place,” he added.