Michael Molina (Lloret de Mar, 1989) has great challenges ahead. Once you reach the top, no other goal remains between the eyebrows. This is what happens to the Spanish driver, who will face his second season with the Ferrari hypercar, the 499P, in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). Its 2023 debut in the top category was exceptional, finishing only third behind the Toyotas and battling for victory in 24H of Le Mans, where ill fortune crossed his path to glory. In 2024 it is time to row again and the Catalan has also raised the level.
Last year, before starting the season, he told us that when Ferrari enters a championship it is to win but you are very humble. In the end you came third, did you really expect that?
“The truth is that we exceeded expectations. Because we are still very young with little experience in this category and in this way we have to continue on that line. We did not expect what happened last year. It sets us even more ambitious goals goal for this year, which is not pressure. If in 2023 we succeed, this year, even if the level rises with more brands, this year the goal is to try to take another step, try to win more races and the goal of Le Mans.”
Do you hope that new brands like Alpine or BMW can do something similar?
“It’s going to be more complicated. Alpine has already shown it has a car for points, BMW didn’t score in Qatar. It’s a difficult year for everyone…”
What areas are you focusing on to take the step forward you mentioned?
Above all with the optimization of everything we have, we have seen that the car is born competitive. But we had tire wear deficiencies, the second stints we had some problems. So far we haven’t used any of the tokens we have for the season and we know the potential the car has and we’ve tried to maximize it both in the simulator and in the tests.
You have spoken about Le Mans, is this the great goal of 2024?
Yes, especially how it was last year: we took pole, we fought for victory throughout the race until the stone problem in the radiator. This should be the goal. It’s an incredible race, if you do it you want to win it and it will help, if we do well at Le Mans, for the championship as well.
Is this the big thorn in your side?
Of course. Even when I think about the pain. We left there feeling like I had missed an opportunity that I don’t know if I’ll ever have again this close. We struggled for months because of this feeling. We are happy for our teammates but we have been faster than them all week and Le Mans shows you that not only do you have to be fast, but everything has to be square: let it be the day, the moment to achieve this. It cannot be but luckily that we can return and we will go with more desire if possible to achieve the goal that we want so much.
After last year’s success, how do you deal with the pressure to wear red?
We didn’t really feel too much pressure. At Le Mans there were many expectations of Ferrari’s return. For Ferrari it is very important and we realize that things are serious, we have to go on lead feet to finish the 24 hours. I think this year we took that pressure off because we showed that Ferrari is capable of being in the top category and doing it well. We have to improve some things and try to improve not only at the car level, but at the team level. Last year we lost weight on our shoulders and now it’s time to finish it
Ferrari’s commitment is clear in another Hypercar with drivers like Kubica and Schwartzman at the wheel. For you, are these more references to learn from or more drivers to beat?
I believe that the more cars from a brand, the better because it makes us grow. We have more information, more experience. They are two similar teams that each have their own work group but logically Ferrari will have more information and that benefits us all. At the driver level apart from Kubica, the drivers in this championship still lack training and experience. Robert has a lot of stamina and not just from his F1 past and that will help a lot. I am sure they will do a great job like they did in the first race.
At Le Mans he will meet his great friend Palou. What options does it give you and what does it mean to be able to share the track with friends in the most legendary race?
I am very excited. We had a very close relationship for many years. He rides on our karting team and that whole relationship makes it a very special race. It’s also very good and if Cadillac gives him a nice car he’ll definitely have his options. It will be a great experience and we will take some pictures. We will try to put him behind him, since I have taught him a lot, now that this is not happening to me anymore (laughs).
This season has already started with the Qatar event, the new test of the championship. What did you feel?
We lacked speed at the start. We are not fighting for victory. We had a great qualifying with Antonio, it was a good start for me but keeping the Peugeots and Porsches behind was impossible with their great pace. Everything that happened to us. This is one of the races we have had the most setbacks since the beginning of the project. We took some good points and saved the weekend. In this sense, it is positive.
Since the premiere and the Imola race are so different, is it easier to change the tone of what was seen at Losail?
This could change for the simple fact that Imola is a completely different circuit. There is definitely a difference in the performance of the cars but Porsche has taken a huge step forward, if I remember correctly, the last seven races they did between IMSA and the WEC they won six. They are at a very high level and today they are the reference. Hopefully we’ll be closer to Imola because we’ll be racing at home and it’s always special. And from there improve for Spa and Le Mans, which have to be more favorable races on higher speed circuits.
After the professional leap last year, what has changed in your daily life?
I think it can be seen from all the following in social networks and in the press, sometimes more international than this. I am very grateful. In the last two years, the step forward has been noticeable in the media. There is more echo and it is appreciated. There is also a lot of movement in South America.
What helped a lot was the growth of the championship. This is the FIA competition with the most brands and it helps.
But my daily life hasn’t changed much either. I still live in the same place, the people are the same as always and on a personal level not much has changed. It is better professionally and personally. So perfect.
Thank you very much and good luck
Yours.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
