Fifteen former Formulation 1 drivers will take to the grid for the Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend. Most drivers with previous grand prix expertise might be racing within the flagship Hypercar class, which is an indicator of their calibre.
For the longest time, sportscar racing has been a gorgeous various vacation spot for drivers who couldn’t fairly make a mark within the pinnacle of motorsport.
Whereas many are pressured to maneuver away from single-seaters earlier than making it to F1, there are sufficient examples of drivers spending a couple of years in F1 and later changing into profitable in sportscar racing.
In comparison with 2025, two main star drivers are lacking in Hypercar. Jenson Button, who raced for Cadillac’s manufacturing facility Jota group, has retired from skilled motorsport, whereas Mick Schumacher has left WEC to race in IndyCar for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Driver
Automotive
Class
Previous F1 group(s)
F1 begins
#7 Toyota GR010
Hypercar
Toyota, Sauber, Caterham
75
#7 Toyota GR010
Hypercar
AlphaTauri
11
Sebastien Buemi
#8 Toyota GR010
Hypercar
Toro Rosso
55
#8 Toyota GR010
Hypercar
Toro Rosso
25
#12 Cadillac V-Sequence.R
Hypercar
Caterham, Marussia
18
#15 BMW M Hybrid V8
Hypercar
McLaren, Renault, Haas
185
#17 Genesis GMR-001
Hypercar
Caterham
1
Sebastien Bourdias
#38 Cadillac V-Sequence.R
Hypercar
Toro Rosso
27
Jack Aitken
#38 Cadillac V-Sequence.R
Hypercar
Williams
1
Hypercar
Sauber/Alfa Romeo
62
Hypercar
BMW, Renault, Williams, Alfa Romeo
99
#93 Peugeot 9X8
Hypercar
Pressure India, Williams
59
#93 Peugeot 9X8
Hypercar
McLaren
41
Jack Doohan
#24 Nielsen Oreca 07
LMP2
7
#26 Vector Oreca 07
LMP2
Haas
2
Logan Sargeant
#88 Proton Ford Mustang GT3
LMGT3
Williams
36
Kamui Kobayashi
#7 Toyota Racing Toyota TR010 Hybrid: Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, Nyck De Vries, Esteban Masson, Sebastien Buemi
Picture by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Automotive: #7 Toyota GR010 HybridFormer F1 group(s): Toyota, Sauber, CaterhamBest F1 outcome: Third
Kamui Kobayashi will make his twelfth look at Le Mans this yr, as he continues to fulfil his twin duties as driver and group principal at Toyota Racing. Kobayashi’s credentials in sportscar racing are well-known, with the Japanese having received the 2021 race outright and claimed two top-class (LMP1/Hypercar) titles within the WEC. Toyota is anticipated to be one of many favourites for victory at Le Mans in 2026.
Previous to his WEC foray, Kobayashi competed in F1, most notably for BMW/Sauber within the early 2010s. The spotlight of his grand prix stint was a podium end on house turf on the 2012 Japanese GP.
Nyck de Vries
#7 Toyota Racing Toyota TR010 Hybrid: Nyck De Vries
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive #7 Toyota GR010 HybridFormer F1 group(s): Williams, AlphaTauriBest F1 outcome: ninth
Nyck de Vries has re-established himself in sportscar racing in the previous few years, changing into an essential determine inside Toyota’s Hypercar programme. After making a reputation for himself within the LMP2 class with Racing Staff Nederland and in Formulation E with Mercedes, de Vries earned a possibility with the Japanese marque in 2024, and has since scored two outright WEC wins.
The Dutchman’s F1 profession, nevertheless, was short-lived. After becoming a member of AlphaTauri on the age of 28, de Vries was dropped by the group simply 11 races into his rookie season.
Sebastien Buemi
#8 Toyota Racing Toyota TR010 Hybrid: Sebastien Buemi
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #8 Toyota GR010 HybridFormer F1 groups: Toro RossoBest F1 outcome: seventh
Having first joined Toyota in 2023, Sebastien Buemi has lived by means of the highs and lows of the group’s LMP1 and Hypercar programmes. He holds the report for essentially the most race wins within the WEC (27), in addition to the joint report for essentially the most top-class titles (4). The Swiss racer additionally began the season with a victory within the Imola opener.
Buemi, who can also be a former Formulation E champion, achieved little success throughout his three years in F1 with Toro Rosso. Whereas he carried out moderately effectively throughout his first two seasons, he was comfortably outscored by his team-mate Jaime Alguersuari in 2013.
Brendon Hartley
#8 Toyota Racing Toyota TR010 Hybrid: Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa, Mike Conway, Esteban Masson
Picture by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Automotive: #8 Toyota GR010 HybridFormer F1 group(s): Toro RossoBest F1 outcome: ninth
Along with Buemi, Brendon Hartley holds the report for many top-class titles within the WEC. The Kiwi was part of Porsche’s all-conquering 919 Hybrid programme within the mid-2010s, which noticed him win among the largest prizes in endurance racing. After Porsche’s LMP1 venture was culled, he moved to Toyota in 2018, and has since scored a number of wins and championships.
Nevertheless, issues by no means actually clicked for Hartley throughout his time in F1 with Toro Rosso. In his sole full-season in F1, he might solely handle 4 factors, whereas his team-mate Pierre Gasly scored 29 throughout the identical interval.
Will Stevens
#12 Cadillac Hertz Staff Jota Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Louis Deletraz, Will Stevens, Norman Nato
Picture by: Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Pictures
Automotive: #12 Cadillac V-Sequence.RFormer F1 group(s): Caterham, MarussiaBest F1 outcome: thirteenth
After scoring class wins at Le Mans in each GTE Am and LMP2, Will Stevens made his option to Hypercar in 2023 with Jota. Each of Jota’s top-class wins in WEC have include Stevens as one in all its drivers. With Cadillac anticipated to be within the victory hunt, the Brit needs to be proper within the combine at Le Mans this yr.
Stevens raced in F1 in 2015, driving for Marussia within the group’s last season. Given the dire monetary state of Marussia and its aggressive struggles, he failed to attain a degree.
Kevin Magnussen
#15 BMW M Staff WRT BMW M Hybrid V8: Kevin Magnussen
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #15 BMW M Hybrid V8Former F1 group(s): McLaren, Renault, HaasBest F1 outcome: 2nd
Kevin Magnussen is contesting his second season in WEC this yr, driving for the manufacturing facility BMW group in Hypercar. The Dane spent a yr in IMSA in 2021 between his two F1 stints, scoring an outright victory with Cadillac at Detroit. His outcomes at Le Mans to this point have fallen wanting expectations, however he did get to finish his dream of sharing a automobile along with his father Jan Magnussen 5 years in the past.
Magnussen famously completed second on his F1 debut in 2014, solely to by no means stand on the rostrum once more. He’s greatest identified for his time with Haas, the place he confirmed flashes of tempo and notched up some essential high 5 outcomes.
Andre Lotterer
#17 Genesis Magma Racing Genesis GMR-001-Hypercar: Andre Lotterer
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #17 Genesis GMR-001Former F1 group(s): CaterhamBest F1 outcome: DNF
Andre Lotterer is a veteran of sportscar racing, having received three LMP1 wins and an general title with Audi. He additionally claimed a Hypercar title with Porsche in 2024, and is now serving to lead Genesis’ entry into the WEC. He has began 74 races within the championship to this point.
Lotterer made only one begin in F1, changing Kobayashi at Caterham within the 2014 Belgian GP. He outqualified his team-mate Marcus Ericsson. Sadly, his race ended on simply the second lap attributable to {an electrical} failure.
Sebastien Bourdais
#38 Cadillac Hertz Staff Jota Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Sebastien Bourdais, Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken, Will Stevens, Norman Nato
Picture by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Automotive: #38 Cadillac V-Sequence.RFormer F1 group(s): Toro RossoBest F1 outcome: seventh
Sebastien Bourdais is definitely some of the skilled and completed racers at Le Mans this yr. Whereas his 4 CART titles stand out on his CV, he has additionally scored one class win at Le Mans and an outright victory on the Daytona 24. He’s nonetheless chasing his first victory in Hypercar, nevertheless.
Bourdais’ short-lived F1 profession yielded little by way of outcomes, not least as a result of Toro Rosso was struggling in its early years. He was dropped midway by means of his second season in 2009 in favour of Alguersuari.
Jack Aitken
#311 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Sequence.R: Jack Aitken
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #38 Cadillac V-Sequence.RFormer F1 group(s): WilliamsBest F1 outcome: sixteenth
Jack Aitken arrives at this yr’s Le Mans because the championship chief in IMSA’s GTP class. His three earlier Le Mans appearances with Motion Specific Racing yielded little by way of outcomes. However he now has a a lot better shot with Jota, which, not like AXR, is a full-season WEC entrant.
The Brit made his one and solely F1 look on the 2020 Sakhir GP, when Lewis Hamilton’s COVID-enforced absence triggered a sequence response and opened up a seat at Williams. He lapped inside a tenth of team-mate Latifi on Bahrain’s shorter structure, however completed the race in sixteenth after a spin.
Antonio Giovinazzi
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Giovinazzi
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #51 Ferrari 499PFormer F1 group(s): Sauber, Alfa RomeoBest F1 outcome: fifth
Antonio Giovinazzi has been an enormous a part of Ferrari’s WEC success, and performed a key position in its historic comeback win at Le Mans in 2023. The #51 crew began the 2026 season with a second-place end in Imola, however was unfortunate to be taken out of the race at Spa within the last hour.
Giovinazzi’s transfer to sportscars got here after a largely disappointing stint in F1. The Italian spent three full seasons with the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo group, registering one top-five end in that point.
Robert Kubica
#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Yifei Ye, Robert Kubica, Philip Hanson
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #83 AF Corse 499PFormer F1 groups: BMW, Renault, Williams, Alfa RomeoBest F1 outcome: 1st
Robert Kubica not solely received Le Mans for the primary time in 2025, he was additionally arguably the quickest driver over the complete season. At 41-years-old, he continues to impress along with his efficiency in AF Corse’s satellite tv for pc Ferrari, and might be one of many favourites for victory if the 499P can get better from a sluggish begin to Le Mans week.
The Pole can also be the one grand prix winner on the Le Mans grid, having claimed a memorable victory on the 2008 Canadian GP. His F1 profession appeared to have been reduce brief by a rally crash in 2011, however he returned to the championship in 2019 with Williams, and made two additional appearances in 2021 with Sauber.
Paul Di Resta
Nick Cassidy, Paul Di Resta, Malthe Jakobsen, Mathias Beche
Picture by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Automotive: #93 Peugeot 9X8 Former F1 group(s): Pressure IndiaBest F1 outcome: 4th
Paul di Resta has been part of Peugeot’s 9X8 programme since its inception, and is aware of the automobile inside out. In slightly below 4 years, he has scored two podiums, together with a second-place end at Fuji final yr. Nevertheless, Peugeot will not be anticipated to be in competition for a podium end at Le Mans, barring main drama on Sunday.
Di Resta loved a promising profession in single-seaters and received a DTM title earlier than stepping as much as F1 in 2011. Driving for midfielders Pressure India, he loved an honest run of outcomes, however couldn’t safe a seat with a front-running group.
Stoffel Vandoorne
#93 Peugeot Totalenergies Peugeot 9X8 Stoffel Vandoorne
Picture by: Marc Fleury
Automotive: #93 Peugeot 9X8Former F1 group(s): McLarenBest F1 outcome: seventh
Stoffel Vandoorne is at the moment in his third season in Hypercar with Peugeot. He was initially set to hitch Genesis for the Hyundai marque’s entry into WEC, however the deal fell by means of on the last-minute, prompting him to return to Peugeot. The Belgian has one general podium at Le Mans to his identify, because of a powerful third-place end on his debut with SMP Racing in 2019.
Vandoorne was touted as McLaren’s subsequent huge star when he made his F1 debut in 2017. Nevertheless, he didn’t make a lot of an impression, even because the group’s fortunes improved below Renault, and was dropped after simply two seasons.
Jack Doohan
#24 Nielsen Racing Oreca 07 Gibson: David Heinemeier Hansson, Edward Pearson, Jack Doohan
Picture by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Automotive: #24 Nielsen Racing Oreca 07Former F1 group(s): AlpineBest F1 outcome: thirteenth
Jack Doohan stepped into sportscar racing this yr with Nielsen Racing, driving for the group within the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Sequence. This chance additionally sees him making his Le Mans debut within the Professional-Am sub-category.
Doohan’s F1 profession lasted simply seven races as he was unceremoniously benched by Alpine lower than a 3rd of the way in which into the 2025 season. The Australian’s seat was already below menace earlier than he made his first begin on the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
Pietro Fittipaldi
#26 Vector Sport Oreca 07 Gibson: Ryan Cullen, Vladislav Lomko, Pietro Fittipaldi
Picture by: Rainier Ehrhardt
Automotive: #26 Vector Sport Oreca 07Former F1 group(s): HaasBest F1 outcome: seventeenth
Pietro Fittipaldi might be competing at Le Mans with a fourth totally different LMP2 group in as a few years. The Brazilian completed seventh at La Sarthe final yr, however might be aiming for a greater outcome as he strikes to Vector Sport. Fittipaldi’s CV consists of an LMP2 win within the 2023 Monza WEC spherical with Jota.
Fittipaldi contested the ultimate two races of the 2020 F1 season for Haas, substituing for an injured Romain Grosjean. He managed a greatest results of seventeenth, failing to do sufficient to safe a full-season drive.
Logan Sargeant
Sebastian Priaulx, Logan Sargeant, Proton Competitors
Picture by: Jakob Ebrey / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Automotive: #88 Proton Ford Mustang LMGT3Former F1 group(s): WilliamsBest F1 outcome: tenth
Logan Sargeant might be making his Le Mans debut as a part of a full WEC programme with Proton in LMGT3. The American already completed contained in the factors at Imola in April, driving the Evo model of the Ford Mustang GT3. He’ll step as much as the Hypercar class subsequent yr with Ford.
Sargeant put America again on the F1 grid in 2023 with Williams. He scored his first and solely factors in entrance of his house crowd at Austin, however was dropped by the group earlier than he accomplished his second season.
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