An ex-World champion and failed Red Bull prodigies - The former F1 drivers to watch at Le Mans
An ex-World champion and failed Red Bull prodigies - The former F1 drivers to watch at Le Mans
There may be no Formula 1 action this weekend (10-11 June) but that doesn't mean you can have a week away from the TV.
The greatest endurance race in the world, and one-third of the 'Triple Crown', will mark its centenary in the 91st edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Only World War Two (1940-1948) and worker strikes (1936) have prevented this event from taking place at some stage or another and it has become the place for some forgotten F1 drivers to make their mark on the motorsport landscape.
Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg have both gone and won this race before returning to F1 which might not be out of the question for some on the grid in 2023.
GPFans takes a look at the former F1 drivers taking part this year.
READ MORE: Tom Brady has a new team as NFL GOAT gets in on Le Mans action
Who's who Hypercar
The fastest cars on the World Endurance Championship grid are the new Hypercars and there is a sea of famous names in both drivers and teams.
Toyota has dominated the season so far with the likes of Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley in the number eight car and Kamui Kobayashi in the number seven.
Ferrari has two entries of their own with Antonio Giovinazzi one of three drivers in the number 51 while Cadillac bring a new entry with Sebastien Bourdais, formerly of Toro Rosso, behind the wheel.
READ MORE: Giovinazzi earns surprise Ferrari reprieve
Jack Aitken, who briefly filled in for Williams during 2020, will also drive a customer Cadillac while Felipe Nasr, Will Stevens and Andre Lotterer are both driving Porsche's Hypercar, albeit in different teams.
Finally, at Peugeot, Paul Di Resta leads the way for the number 93 where he will be joined by Jean-Eric Vergne.
LMP2
Just below the Hypercar class is LMP2, which is set to be dropped entirely when the Hypercar grid gets big enough, and there are more familiar F1 faces here.
Daniil Kvyat is one who will move to Hypercar in 2024 with Lamborghini but for now, he races for PREMA alongside Mirko Bortolotti and French female racer Doriane Pin.
Rober Kubica also appears in LMP2 for Team WRT while Pietro Fittipaldi, who also filled in for Haas during 2020, races for JOTA.
READ MORE: Button on NASCAR debut: 40 per cent of it 'felt SILLY'
NASCAR Innovation
The only 'Innovative' entry to the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours is the Garage 56 NASCAR, which has been adapted to improve cornering ability.
Behind the wheel in a star-studded lineup will be 2009 F1 world champion Jenson Button, who also raced in NASCAR at the Circuit of the Americas earlier this year.
Joining Button in the entry are seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and German touring car ace Mike Rockenfeller.
READ MORE: Nico Rosberg: Sky F1 pundit and former world champion
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- 42 minutes ago
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- 1 hour ago
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- 2 hours ago
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 3 hours ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Vettel reveals TEMPTATION for racing return after F1 retirement
Honda reveals PRIORITIES ahead of F1 2026 entry
Former F1 world champion set for full season racing return
Axed F1 driver De Vries joins new team
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860