The Circuit de la Sarthe will host the 94th Le Mans 24 Hours this weekend, and it's not just the 62 cars and 186 drivers that are drawing attention. Among those taking on the legendary endurance race are 16 drivers who once battled it out in Formula 1.
Kamui Kobayashi
Kamui Kobayashi, who made 75 Grand Prix appearances, will be in the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid. A highlight of his F1 career was a podium finish at Suzuka in 2012. Post-F1, Kobayashi found success in endurance racing, winning Le Mans in 2021.
Nyck de Vries
Nyck de Vries joins Kobayashi in the #7 Toyota. His brief F1 stint included a notable ninth-place finish for Williams at Monza in 2022. Though his time with AlphaTauri in 2023 was short-lived, de Vries has since shone in sports cars, finishing second at Le Mans in 2024.
Sebastien Buemi
Sebastien Buemi will race in the #8 Toyota, marking his 15th season with the team. After his F1 career with Toro Rosso ended, Buemi became a Le Mans regular, winning four times.
Brendon Hartley
Brendon Hartley partners Buemi in the #8 Toyota. Like Buemi, Hartley found success post-F1, securing three Le Mans victories.
Will Stevens
Will Stevens, who raced for Caterham and Manor in F1, now drives the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R. He's found more success off the F1 grid, claiming wins in the WEC.
Kevin Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen, with 185 F1 races under his belt, now drives the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8. His transition to endurance racing follows a family tradition, having previously raced at Le Mans with his father, Jan.
Andre Lotterer
Andre Lotterer, a seasoned Le Mans competitor, will drive the #17 Genesis GMR-001. His F1 career was brief, with a single race for Caterham in 2014.
Sebastien Bourdais
Sebastien Bourdais takes on Le Mans in the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R. Known for his Champ Car success, Bourdais had a short-lived F1 career but has thrived in endurance racing.
Jack Aitken
Jack Aitken, who filled in at Williams for one race, will race in the #38 Cadillac. He's been a regular in sports cars since 2023.
Antonio Giovinazzi
Antonio Giovinazzi races the #51 Ferrari 499P. After F1, he joined Ferrari's endurance program, contributing to their 2023 Le Mans victory.
Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica, driving for AF Corse in the #83 Ferrari, made a remarkable return to motorsport after a severe rally crash. Last year, he triumphed at Le Mans with Ferrari.
Paul di Resta
Paul di Resta competes in the #93 Peugeot 9X8. After F1, he found victory in LMP2 and now races in the Hypercar class with Peugeot.
Stoffel Vandoorne
Stoffel Vandoorne, who faced challenges during his McLaren years, now races alongside di Resta in the #93 Peugeot, having found form in endurance racing.
Jack Doohan
Jack Doohan, who had a brief F1 stint with Alpine, will debut at Le Mans with Nielsen Racing in LMP2. His focus has shifted to endurance racing.
Pietro Fittipaldi
Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of Emerson Fittipaldi, will race for Vector Sport in LMP2. His F1 career was brief, with two races for Haas.
Logan Sargeant
Finally, Logan Sargeant, who had a short-lived F1 tenure with Williams, makes his Le Mans debut in the #88 Proton Ford Mustang LMGT3.
These drivers, each with a unique journey from F1, add an intriguing layer to this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, blending past experience with the relentless challenge of endurance racing.