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Several former F1 drivers, including Jenson Button, Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen, are set to take part in the 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Button and Magnussen will be among a few marquee names set to take part in the 2025 edition of Le Mans (X)
As the Formula 1 paddock gets ready to head to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, several familiar faces from F1’s past are preparing for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking place from Saturday, June 14 to Sunday, June 15.
This iconic endurance race has been the stage for some memorable triumphs of current grid drivers. Nico Hulkenberg celebrated victory with Porsche in 2015, while Fernando Alonso clinched back-to-back wins with Toyota in 2018 and 2019.
The most renowned name from Formula 1 in this year’s Le Mans is Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion with Brawn GP. At 45, Button is racing in the 24-hour classic for the fourth time, still in pursuit of his first win on the 13.6-kilometre circuit.
A more recent F1 racer, Kevin Magnussen, will be behind the wheel of the #15 BMW M Team WRT, marking his second appearance at Le Mans. This time, Magnussen teams up with Dries Vanthoor and Raffaele Marciello, after his LMP2 class drive in 2021. The Danish driver, having ended his second stint with Haas last season, is now competing in other racing categories. Over his extensive Formula 1 career, Magnussen started in 185 Grands Prix between 2014 and 2024, with his best result being P2 on his debut for McLaren at the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.
Magnussen made a surprising return to Formula 1 in 2022 after a year away, partnering with Mick Schumacher at Haas during the German’s second year in the sport. However, Schumacher’s two mid-season points finishes in 2023 were not enough to retain his place on the F1 grid, leading him to focus on the World Endurance Championship with Alpine. Schumacher, along with teammates Frederic Makowiecki and Jules Gounon, has secured two podiums in 2025. Whether they could replicate this success at Le Mans remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, no former F1 drivers are competing in the LMGT3 class, but Eduardo Barichello, son of Rubens Barichello, is set to make his Le Mans debut.
In another interesting anecdote, Valentino Rossi, the Moto GP legend, is making his second appearance in this endurance race. Known for his illustrious career on two wheels, Rossi swapped rides with Lewis Hamilton in 2019 and also tested for Ferrari in 2006.
(with inputs from agencies)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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