The 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 14–15, 2025 at Circuit de la Sarthe) is set to be historic—not just for the grid of Hypercars, but for the star-studded cast of 19 former Formula 1 drivers lining up. With 17 in the Hypercar class alone, the race is brimming with top-tier talent, blending endurance icons and former Grand Prix warriors. Here’s a breakdown of each ex-F1 driver returning to challenge at Le Mans:
Jenson Button
2009 F1 World Champion Button will pilot the #38 Cadillac Hertz team alongside Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber. Button has Le Mans credentials already, with a best finish of P9 last year.
Kevin Magnussen
Making his second shift from F1 to Le Mans, Magnussen joins the #15 BMW M Team WRT entry, co-driving with Dries Vanthoor and Raffaele Marciello. His experience includes 185 F1 starts and prior LMP2 runs.
Robert Kubica
Polish ace Kubica, returning to Le Mans after victories in LMP2, competes for AF Corse in their Hypercar car #83. This follows a rollercoaster F1 career hampered by injury but with clear endurance pedigree.
Mick Schumacher
Former Mercedes F1 reserve and son of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, Mick races in WEC. He teams up with Frédéric Makowiecki and Jules Gounon—can he translate his podium momentum in WEC to success at La Sarthe?
Felipe Nasr & Pascal Wehrlein – Porsche Penske Motorsport (#4)
Nasr (Sauber, 2015–16) and Wehrlein (Manor, Sauber, 2016–17) both join forces at Porsche. Nasr brings prior Le Mans experience, while Wehrlein makes his Hypercar debut.
Kamui Kobayashi & Nyck de Vries – Toyota Gazoo Racing (#7)
Kobayashi, already a 2021 Le Mans winner and podium staple, is paired with de Vries—whose brief F1 stint in 2022–23 gave him high-pressure experience. They race with Mike Conway aiming to convert speed into Silverstone-style grit.
Sébastien Buemi & Brendon Hartley – Toyota Gazoo Racing (#8)
Buemi (Toro Rosso) and Hartley (Toro Rosso) already share two Le Mans victories—Buemi with four wins under his belt. Both drivers bring tactical expertise and raw speed to Toyota’s #8 Hypercar.
Will Stevens – Cadillac (Team Jota #12)
Stevens, a former Caterham and Manor racer (2014–15), returns to Le Mans, having previously clinched wins in the LMGTE-AM and LMP2 classes. He joins Cadillac’s growing Hypercar effort.
Antonio Giovinazzi – Ferrari AF Corse (#51)
After scoring F1 points with Sauber and Alfa Romeo (2017–20), Giovinazzi became a Le Mans winner in 2023. He returns with Ferrari AF Corse—hoping to reinforce their bid for a Le Mans three-peat.
Paul di Resta & Jean-Eric Vergne – Peugeot (#93)
Di Resta (Force India, 2011–13) and Vergne (Toro Rosso, 2012–14) forge a unique pairing in Peugeot’s returning effort. Both bring adaptability across multiple racing disciplines into Peugeot’s Hypercar push.
Others in the Mix
Ex-F1 drivers like Kamui Kobayashi, Sebastian Buemi, and Brendon Hartley now compete full-time in WEC and spearhead Toyota’s Hypercar challenge—underscoring Le Mans’ role as both a testing ground and a proving platform for former Grand Prix talents.
Why It Matters
Le Mans has traditionally been a proving ground for F1 drivers transitioning into endurance racing. Icons like Fernando Alonso (Le Mans winner in 2018 and 2019) and Nico Hulkenberg (2015 winner) have demonstrated that mastering LMP1/Hypercar conditions demands adaptability, patience, and resolve.
Preview: What to Watch
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Star power vs. strategy: Will seasoned endurance racers edge out returning F1 talent?
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Tech bridging the gap: Hypercars are closer than ever to F1’s advanced tech—see how these drivers adapt their skillsets.
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Grid overlap: As many F1 teams race in Canada during Le Mans, the endurance showdown offers a fascinating parallel—can any ex-F1 driver imagine a full switch?
Final Lap
This year’s Le Mans grid is a thrilling convergence of legacy and innovation. With 19 ex-F1 drivers chasing glory on both sides of the 24-hour clock, Le Mans promises to be as compelling as any Grand Prix—only with more pit strategy, traffic, and mechanical mystique. Buckle up: endurance racing’s most storied battleground is once again calling those with single-seater roots to tame its legacy.
