Le Mans: 17 ex-F1 drivers target Hypercar glory as race week begins
F1 NewsTuesday, 10 June 2025 at 08:00
The 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans got underway with the official Test Day, featuring 17 former Formula 1 drivers competing in the top-tier Hypercar (LMH) class action, with Toyota quickest on Monday.
The 2025 Le Mans entry list is one of the strongest in recent years, headlined by factory efforts from Porsche, Toyota, Peugeot, BMW, Alpine and defending champions Ferrari.
Felipe Nasr returns to the Circuit de la Sarthe with Porsche Penske Motorsport, as he continues a strong 2025 campaign alongside regular IMSA duties. The 31-year-old Brazilian made 39 Grand Prix starts with Sauber between 2015 and 2016, scoring points in his F1 debut and ending his rookie year with 27 championship points.
Since leaving Formula 1, Nasr has enjoyed a successful career in endurance racing. He joined Porsche in 2022 after stints with Action Express Cadillac and has since claimed multiple victories at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Despite being winless in five prior Le Mans starts, Nasr is widely tipped to be a front-runner in this year’s Hypercar category.
Porsche vs Toyota, Wherlein vs Kobayashi
Joining him in the No. 6 Porsche 963 is fellow ex-F1 driver Pascal Wehrlein. The German also made 39 Grand Prix starts, racing for Manor and Sauber between 2016 and 2017. Wehrlein transitioned to Formula E, where he captured the 2023–2024 championship before switching to sportscar racing with Porsche. Le Mans 2025 will mark Wehrlein’s debut in the legendary French endurance race.
Kamui Kobayashi continues to lead the line for Toyota Gazoo Racing as the Japanese marque aims to reclaim overall victory. Now a veteran of the event, the 37-year-old is contesting his 11th Le Mans 24 Hours, having won in 2021 and come close on several other occasions.
Kobayashi’s Formula 1 career spanned 75 starts between 2009 and 2014, including a popular podium at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix for Sauber. Since moving into endurance racing, he has become a mainstay in Toyota’s Hypercar programme and now also serves as Team Principal for the WEC squad.
The 2025 edition of the race will see Kobayashi partnered again with Mike Conway and Nyck de Vries, as Toyota aim to outpace the growing challenge from Porsche, Ferrari and Peugeot in the fiercely competitive Hypercar class.
Hartley puts Toyota on top on Le Mans Test Day
Toyota Gazoo Racing laid down an early marker ahead of the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, with ex-Toro Rosso F1 driver Brendon Hartley setting the fastest time during Sunday’s official Test Day at Circuit de la Sarthe.
Driving the #8 GR010 Hybrid, Hartley posted a best lap of 3:26.246 in the afternoon session to top the timesheets, edging out the competition in a closely matched Hypercar field. The time was 0.661s faster than last year’s Test Day benchmark, set by Porsche Penske’s Kévin Estre.
Hartley, who shares the car with Sébastien Buemi and Ryō Hirakawa, said: “It was very nice to be back in the GR010 around Le Mans. Clearly the competition is fierce, but we had no major dramas and we’ve come away from the day with a good feeling.
"On long runs, I wouldn’t say we were the quickest car so we’ve still got a bit of work to do, but I feel like we’re in the fight. Hopefully, now we’ll get some good sleep over the next few nights to recharge and prepare for the big job that’s coming next week," added Hartley.
Kubica tops morning session
Earlier in the day, another ex-F1 driver, Robert Kubica, set the pace for AF Corse in the #83 Ferrari 499P. He improved his time slightly in the afternoon but ultimately settled for third behind James Calado, who guided the #51 factory Ferrari to second overall, just over half a second off Hartley’s best.
Mick Schumacher impressed in fourth for the Alpine Endurance Team, as the French squad look to rebound from a double DNF in their home race last year. Estre was fifth in the #6 Porsche 963, while six different manufacturers were represented in the top ten.
The session was briefly halted due to a red flag caused by Sheldon van der Linde’s BMW M Hybrid V8, which stopped on track with a mechanical issue in the second half of the afternoon. No other major issues were reported in the Hypercar class.
Here is the full list of former Formula 1 drivers entered for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Hypercar (LMH) class:
Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) Class - 17 Formula 1 drivers
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1. Felipe Nasr – Porsche Penske Motorsport
F1: 39 starts (Sauber, 2015–2016)
F1: 39 starts (Sauber, 2015–2016)
2. Pascal Wehrlein – Porsche Penske Motorsport
F1: 39 starts (Manor, Sauber; 2016–2017)
F1: 39 starts (Manor, Sauber; 2016–2017)
3. Kamui Kobayashi – Toyota Gazoo Racing
F1: 75 starts (Toyota, Sauber, Caterham; 2009–2014)
F1: 75 starts (Toyota, Sauber, Caterham; 2009–2014)
4. Nyck de Vries – Toyota Gazoo Racing
F1: 11 starts (AlphaTauri; 2023)
F1: 11 starts (AlphaTauri; 2023)
5. Brendon Hartley – Toyota Gazoo Racing
F1: 25 starts (Toro Rosso; 2017–2018)
F1: 25 starts (Toro Rosso; 2017–2018)
6. Sébastien Bourdais – Cadillac Racing
F1: 27 starts (Toro Rosso; 2008–2009)
F1: 27 starts (Toro Rosso; 2008–2009)
7. Paul di Resta – Peugeot TotalEnergies
F1: 59 starts (Force India; 2011–2013, Williams stand-in 2017)
F1: 59 starts (Force India; 2011–2013, Williams stand-in 2017)
8. Jean-Éric Vergne – Peugeot TotalEnergies
F1: 58 starts (Toro Rosso; 2012–2014)
F1: 58 starts (Toro Rosso; 2012–2014)
9. Daniil Kvyat – Lamborghini Iron Lynx
F1: 110 starts (Toro Rosso, Red Bull, AlphaTauri; 2014–2020)
F1: 110 starts (Toro Rosso, Red Bull, AlphaTauri; 2014–2020)
10. Robert Kubica – AF Corse Ferrari
F1: 99 starts (BMW, Renault, Williams, Alfa Romeo; 2006–2021)
F1: 99 starts (BMW, Renault, Williams, Alfa Romeo; 2006–2021)
11. Mick Schumacher – Alpine Endurance Team
F1: 43 starts (Haas; 2021–2022)
F1: 43 starts (Haas; 2021–2022)
12. Jack Aitken – Action Express Cadillac
F1: 1 start (Williams; 2020)
F1: 1 start (Williams; 2020)
13. Stoffel Vandoorne – Peugeot TotalEnergies
F1: 41 starts (McLaren; 2016–2018)
F1: 41 starts (McLaren; 2016–2018)
14. Will Stevens – Hertz Team Jota (Porsche customer)
F1: 18 starts (Caterham, Marussia; 2014–2015)
F1: 18 starts (Caterham, Marussia; 2014–2015)
15. Giedo van der Garde – Isotta Fraschini Duqueine
F1: 19 starts (Caterham; 2013)
F1: 19 starts (Caterham; 2013)
16. Kevin Magnussen – Ferrari AF Corse
F1: 167 starts (McLaren, Renault, Haas; 2014–2022)
F1: 167 starts (McLaren, Renault, Haas; 2014–2022)
17. Romain Grosjean – Lamborghini Iron Lynx
F1: 179 starts (Renault, Lotus, Haas; 2009–2020)
F1: 179 starts (Renault, Lotus, Haas; 2009–2020)
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