The ex-F1 drivers taking on the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours

It is honestly staggering to look at the entry list for this weekend’s 94th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours. We are talking about 62 cars and 186 drivers descending on the Circuit de la Sarthe, but the real story for us is the incredible influx of 16 ex-Formula 1 drivers scattered across the prototype and GT machinery.

Some of these names are legends in the endurance world. You have stalwarts like Sebastien Buemi, competing in his 15th season with Toyota, and Kamui Kobayashi, who won this race in 2021. It is a massive transition to see talents like Robert Kubica, who took a remarkable win at Le Mans last year, or Antonio Giovinazzi, who helped Ferrari secure their historic 2023 victory, finding such a second wind in the Hypercar class.

Then there are the guys still carving out their post-F1 identities. Whether it is Kevin Magnussen in the BMW, Stoffel Vandoorne with Peugeot, or newer faces like Jack Doohan and Logan Sargeant making their Le Mans debuts, the grid is packed with stories. It is a wild mix of former grand prix racers now fighting for the same goal in France.