From F1 to La Sarthe: Ex-F1 drivers find their bearings in WEC at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Zoha Wyne
- Jun 15, 2025
- 3 min read
Written by Zoha Wyne, Edited by Meghana Sree
A record 19 ex-Formula One drivers are set to tackle motorsport’s ultimate endurance test at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Swapping DRS for durability, these former Grand Prix stars face the World Endurance Championship’s (WEC) gruelling jewel: a 24-hour battle at Circuit de la Sarthe.
This 13.6km (8.45mi) blend of country roads and race-ready tarmac, including the fearsome Mulsanne Straight, demands mechanical resilience and driver synergy over raw pace.
A different kind of pressure
Le Mans is no ordinary race, it's a war of attrition where cars thunder through day and night, sun and rain. As the FIA WEC’s centrepiece, it tests emotion, teamwork and machinery. For former F1 drivers, accustomed to 90-minute sprints, Le Mans offers a shot at a legacy beyond Grand Prix glory.
WEC 101: Not your average race weekend
WEC races range from six to 24 hours, with Le Mans as the pinnacle marathon against fatigue and fate. The grid splits into:
Hypercar: Elite prototypes from Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, Cadillac and others.
LMP2: Spec prototypes rewarding execution and talent.
LMGT3: Production-based GT cars, introduced in 2024.
Three or four drivers share each car, making stints, sleep cycles and strategy critical.
Practice & Qualifying recap: Drama before the drop
Free Practice set the stage for a fierce Hypercar battle.
Cadillac’s No.38 led FP1, followed by Ferrari and Toyota. Porsche’s No.5, driven by Mathieu Jaminet, Michael Christensen and Julien Andlauer, topped FP3 with a 3:24.717.
Qualifying then brought chaos: Cadillac’s No.12 secured pole with a 3:22.847, edging out BMW and Ferrari’s No.51. Toyota’s No.7, with Nyck de Vries and Kamui Kobayashi, slumped to P17 after yellow flags
From the paddock to the pit wall: Ex- F1 talent takes over
Among 62 cars, 19 feature ex-F1 drivers. Antonio Giovinazzi helms Ferrari’s No.51, aiming to repeat 2023’s win with Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado. Robert Kubica joins Ferrari’s No.83, bringing grit and experience to the lineup.
Toyota’s No.7 pairs Kobayashi and de Vries, while No.8 features Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley — four-time Le Mans winners.
Porsche’s No.4 boasts Felipe Nasr and Pascal Wehrlein, fresh from his 2024 Formula E title.
Jenson Button leads Cadillac’s No.38, leveraging IMSA experience, alongside Sébastien Bourdais in No.3.
Kevin Magnussen debuts in BMW’s No.15 Hypercar, while Paul di Resta and Jean-Éric Vergne drive Peugeot’s No.93.
LMP2 and LMGT3 include Pietro Fittipaldi, André Lotterer and Esteban Gutiérrez.
Stories to watch as the clock starts ticking
As the tricolour waves on 14th June and the race lights up into the night, key storylines will emerge:
Ferrari’s No.51, with Giovinazzi, aims to leverage 2023’s winning strategy.
Toyota’s No.7 seeks to recover from P17, relying on Kobayashi’s experience from his 2021 Le Mans win.
Porsche’s No.6 faces a rear-grid fight, testing Nasr’s pace.
Button’s Cadillac No.38 targets a podium, drawing on his IMSA experience.
Balance of Performance (BoP) could tilt the Hypercar battle, with Ferrari favoured but Toyota and Porsche close.
Which ex-F1 star will master Le Mans’ discipline?
Le Mans 2025 is a proving ground for second chapters. For these 19 ex-F1 drivers, the F1 paddock’s glitz is history. Le Mans offers a second life — a chance to redefine their careers beyond F1’s fleeting spotlight. Will Button, Buemi or Giovinazzi claim glory in the midnight mist?
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