These 5 former F1 drivers to watch at the 24 2025 Hours of Le Mans

Jenson Button, for the love of Le Mans

For the second consecutive year, the world champion of Formula 1 2009 presents itself at Le Mans in the colors of Team Jota. This year, he traded his Porsche 963 for a Cadillac V-Series.R. But this isn't the first time Jenson Button has driven an American car in La Sarthe. In 2023, he took part in the centenary race at the wheel of a NASCAR specially configured for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Having fallen in love with the 24 Hours, the former driver McLaren takes the plunge in 2024 and joins the Hypercar category. A regular for the entire season with Team Jota, he is notably aligned alongside Sébastien Bourdais in 2025. In his quest for a second Triple Crown event – ​​he won the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009 – being alongside a former class winner will definitely be useful.

Kevin Magnussen, on behalf of the father

Jan Magnussen participated in the 24H of Le Mans 23 times and has won 4 class victories. In 2021, father and son completed the double round-the-clock race at Le Mans together. While Kevin has done much better in Formula 1, he will need a few exploits at Le Mans to approach Jan's record in Le Mans.

In the premier category, Kevin Magnussen bluffed on his debut. On the podium in his first Grand Prix, something never seen since Lewis HamiltonUnfortunately for the Dane, this 2nd place at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix remains his only appearance on a podium in F1. After his second dismissal from the team Haas, at the end of 2024, Magnussen was immediately recruited by BMW in WECThis year, he is participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in the Hypercar category.

Robert Kubica, the survivor who conquered Le Mans

Ferrari will she be able to chain a 3rd consecutive victory at Le Mans with 3 different cars? To do this, we'll have to rely on a very great Robert Kubica. Lined up at the wheel of the #83 AF Corse team, the Pole has already experienced cruel disappointments on the double round-the-clock Sarthe. 2nd in the LM P2 category in 2022 and 2023, he has been chasing a victory at Le Mans for four years.

Seriously damaged in rally In 2011, Kubica was previously one of Formula 1's great hopes. The first Polish winner in Canada in 2008, he was a short-lived leader of the world championship. Since then, he has become an example of resilience in motorsport. Driving practically one-handed – his right hand now only allows him to accompany the steering wheel – he returned to F1 to score the only point of Williams in 2019. Although his accident cost him his best years, the Pole has turned them into a strength. A victory at Le Mans, however improbable, would definitely make him a part of history.

Mick Schumacher, because F1 never called him back

Mick Schumacher has never hidden it: he entered the WEC because he no longer had a seat in Formula 1. Ousted from the Haas team at the end of 2022, he did not have a second chance in the premier class. Very often, the train only comes once. The German nevertheless tried to stay in touch with the paddocks, becoming for a time the reserve driver of Mercedes. But the door never opened again.

So when Alpine called him to take the wheel of the A424 in 2024, Mick Schumacher agreed to take a step aside. Even if he never wanted to rule out F1, the opportunity was too good to miss. On June 15 and 16, 2024, he participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in his career, for a French team. A few months later, he climbed onto his first podium, at Fuji. At the start of 2025, the crew of the No. 36 added two podiums to the French team's tally. Waiting for consecration at Le Mans?

Nyck de Vries, a stint in F1 to forget but Le Mans to shine

The transition to Formula 1 of Nyck de Vries will not have left an everlasting memory. After an impressive stint at Williams in 2022, he never managed to get into the rhythm ofAlpha Tauri the following season. Helmut Marko's impatience even prevented him from reaching the summer break. So, the Dutchman went back to where he came from: in Formula E and at the WEC.

Hired by Toyota, he came very close to winning the title last year, in his first Hypercar. Beaten by Ferrari, the crew of the No. 7 is out for revenge. Jose Maria Lopez gave way to Mike conway, but Nyck de Vries' goal remains the same: to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in his career. Like all these drivers, in short.

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