The 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans will go down in historical past as one of many races with essentially the most distinctive and surprising consequence—but additionally one of the romantic—which noticed Ferrari triumph for the third consecutive time, because of the personal AF Corse crew.
The 499P continues to dominate the Circuit de la Sarthe and, after its victories in 2023 and 2024, accomplished the hat-trick with the Giallo Modena #83 automobile pushed by Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson, and Yifei Ye. The trio made only a few errors, maintained a powerful tempo, and secured the lead within the morning after an error by the official #51 Ferrari.
The fourth spherical of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship confirms that the Maranello automobiles are those to beat within the Hypercar class, however few would have wager on the third entry taking the highlight in France.
The most recent addition to the Piacenza-based crew was Phil Hanson, a younger driver with immense potential who instantly demonstrated distinctive high quality in endurance racing—a lot in order that he has already taken residence a Le Mans win.
“I’m overwhelmed with feelings proper now, and I do know that right here, till the final lap, you may’t calm down as a result of something can occur. That’s why I didn’t have a good time till Robert crossed the end line—then I exploded,” stated a visibly moved Hanson in the course of the press convention.
One other nice story is that of Ye, a Ferrari works driver since final yr and already a winner with the 499P at Austin in 2024, however with a traumatic Le Mans expertise in 2021 that solely a Hypercar victory may lastly put behind him.
“My first Le Mans was in 2021 with Robert, and everyone knows the way it ended; this week he joked with me, saying that the 2 instances we’d raced collectively on the 24h, we by no means completed. So I hoped for a special consequence this time,” laughed the Chinese language driver, the primary to win the 24h total in a Ferrari.
“We all know our automobile could be very robust on this observe; the #51 received in 2023 and the #50 in 2024. Profitable ourselves is a good supply of delight, even when it wasn’t straightforward as a result of the Security Automotive disrupted the rhythm and introduced everybody again into the race.”
“In the long run, it was a really tight contest, and one mistake may have been extraordinarily pricey. That’s why we needed to keep most focus till the tip. Additionally, with just one Security Automotive, we needed to push like in qualifying each lap to realize on the competitors.”
“For me, it’s particular as a result of I moved to France after I was 11 to try to grow to be an expert driver. The final time I bought on the rostrum right here was in 2016 in French F4, so my dream was to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, particularly since I used to stay in an residence close to Tertre Rouge. I did it with Ferrari—I’ve no phrases. It’s a dream come true as a result of that is essentially the most well-known race on this planet together with the Monaco GP and the Indy500.”
After which there’s Robert Kubica, one of the proficient, decided, and beneficiant drivers, who hasn’t all the time acquired what he deserved. Profitable the yr’s most necessary race in a automobile from essentially the most prestigious model provides a candy chapter to a real fairy story.
“It’s undoubtedly a big day. I believe again to my first Le Mans in 2021 after I misplaced the LMP2 class on the final lap, within the worst attainable manner. I already knew that in racing, it’s a must to look ahead to the end line, however the consciousness that solely a technical situation may take the victory away from us had been with me for some time as I used to be driving.”
“After I first got here right here, I used to be 35 years outdated, had raced in lots of classes, and every little thing had grow to be kind of routine, let’s say. However Le Mans, with its uniqueness and particular challenges, gave me emotions and sensations as if I had been dealing with one thing utterly new, one thing I didn’t know the way I’d react to or what to anticipate. It introduced me again to my karting days, when every little thing was a primary.”
“I liked that feeling, and I fell in love with Le Mans. In 2021 I advised my teammate Louis Deletraz that if I ever received, I wouldn’t come again. And really, I discussed it two days in the past to a buddy of mine—somebody who works at Ferrari and can be a rally driver. He advised me, ‘I heard in case you win, you’ll retire.’ And I replied, ‘If I win, I’ll return to rallying.’ I normally maintain my phrase. We’ll see what the longer term holds.”
As for the race, the Polish driver drove for over 10 hours and by no means held again—in spite of everything, who higher than him to deal with tough conditions?
“At the moment’s race was lengthy, however I managed the ultimate half as a result of we had been conscious of what we had been racing for, what was at stake, and what we’d been working in the direction of for thus many hours. We lastly managed to finish that ultimate lap that I couldn’t in 2021 with Yifei, who was additionally my teammate again then.”
“The tire change close to the tip was a precaution. We may’ve completed with a triple stint, however we had a superb lead and I attempted to increase it as a lot as attainable. A 3rd stint on the identical tires is all the time dangerous—put on will increase, and even a small reduce can deflate a tire. So a recent tire, apart from providing higher efficiency, additionally provides you extra confidence and security to complete with out points. We did every little thing to keep away from issues.”
“However to be sincere, I wasn’t fearful concerning the chasers. We had tempo, and when wanted, I confirmed it—particularly within the early a part of the race. Within the ultimate hours I simply managed the lead, figuring out I needed to keep forward with out taking dangers, as a result of only one Security Automotive and it could all restart from zero. So I attempted to protect the tires and maintain a security margin, as a result of at Le Mans, you by no means know.”
“After I bought within the automobile, I didn’t count on to complete the race. However I do no matter I’m advised. I’m blissful to have contributed—though I believe the largest contribution got here at first, once we climbed from tenth to the entrance. We had nice battles, overtakes, and I knew I needed to take some dangers to carry the automobile again the place it belonged. It labored, then the Security Automotive got here out—on the worst time for us.”
“We had a giant benefit over many of the subject, and that erased every little thing. Issues had been comparatively below management, however in a 24-hour race, you by no means know what to anticipate. You all the time attempt to construct a spot, create a margin. However on the similar time, if you’re within the lead, it’s by no means straightforward. You want frequent sense and steadiness between threat and reward. And it’s really easy to make a mistake right here and lose every little thing. So I’m blissful I managed to drive these final 5 hours with none errors. In the long run, I solely slept a few hours—and for a 40-year-old man, I’d say that’s not dangerous.”
As we talked about, the Robert Kubica fairy story takes on really lovely and romantic tones, and Robert himself provides a touching interpretation, in his sometimes sincere and considerate manner.
“I don’t suppose that is crucial success of my profession. A very powerful one has nothing to do with racing, to be sincere. It was the victory I earned—the battle I fought—when my thoughts or mind wouldn’t settle for my limitations after the accident. Throughout restoration, I fought for months, labored laborious to just accept issues, to restart, to seek out peace of thoughts, to cease residing with the ‘what if it hadn’t occurred’ mindset, and as a substitute to concentrate on targets and milestones. Accepting your limits could appear straightforward, however for me, it was something however.”
“Let’s say that immediately destiny gave me one thing again, at the least in sporting phrases. It’s an enormous outcome. I’m the sort of one that didn’t even take pleasure in my System 1 win on the time—perhaps tomorrow I’ll handle to take pleasure in this yet another. Proper now, I’m additionally drained—we’ve gone many hours with out sleep, at the least the previous 38. I solely slept two hours, however perhaps as soon as I get some sugar into my system, my mind will change on and I’ll take pleasure in it extra.”
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