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 final result—but additionally one of the romantic—which noticed Ferrari triumph for the third consecutive time, due to the personal AF Corse staff.
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 automotive pushed by Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson, and Yifei Ye. The trio made only a few errors, maintained a robust 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 vehicles are those to beat within the Hypercar class, however few would have guess on the third entry taking the highlight in France.
The newest addition to the Piacenza-based staff 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 dwelling 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 chill out 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 through 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 final result this time,” laughed the Chinese language driver, the primary to win the 24h general in a Ferrari.
“We all know our automotive could be very robust on this observe; the #51 received in 2023 and the #50 in 2024. Profitable ourselves is a superb supply of satisfaction, even when it wasn’t simple as a result of the Security Automobile 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 top. Additionally, with just one Security Automobile, we needed to push like in qualifying each lap to achieve on the competitors.”
“For me, it’s particular as a result of I moved to France once I was 11 to attempt to turn into an expert driver. The final time I received 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 condo 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 the earth 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 at all times acquired what he deserved. Profitable the yr’s most vital race in a automotive from essentially the most prestigious model provides a candy chapter to a real fairy story.
“It’s undoubtedly a big day. I feel again to my first Le Mans in 2021 once I misplaced the LMP2 class on the final lap, within the worst doable approach. I already knew that in racing, it’s a must to await the end line, however the consciousness that solely a technical problem may take the victory away from us had been with me for some time as I used to be driving.”
“Once I first got here right here, I used to be 35 years previous, had raced in lots of classes, and every little thing had turn into type of routine, let’s say. However Le Mans, with its uniqueness and particular challenges, gave me emotions and sensations as if I had been going through one thing fully new, one thing I didn’t understand how 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 instructed 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 also be a rally driver. He instructed me, ‘I heard if you happen to win, you’ll retire.’ And I replied, ‘If I win, I’ll return to rallying.’ I often hold 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 any case, who higher than him to deal with tough conditions?
“In the present day’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 direction of for therefore many hours. We lastly managed to finish that last lap that I couldn’t in 2021 with Yifei, who was additionally my teammate again then.”
“The tire change close to the top 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 doable. A 3rd stint on the identical tires is at all times dangerous—put on will increase, and even a small minimize 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 trustworthy, 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 last hours I simply managed the lead, understanding I needed to keep forward with out taking dangers, as a result of only one Security Automobile and it will all restart from zero. So I attempted to protect the tires and hold a security margin, as a result of at Le Mans, you by no means know.”
“Once I received within the automotive, I didn’t count on to complete the race. However I do no matter I’m instructed. I’m glad to have contributed—though I feel the most important contribution got here at the start, 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 automotive again the place it belonged. It labored, then the Security Automobile got here out—on the worst time for us.”
“We had a giant benefit over a lot 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 at all times attempt to construct a spot, create a margin. However on the identical time, while you’re within the lead, it’s by no means simple. You want widespread sense and stability between danger and reward. And it’s really easy to make a mistake right here and lose every little thing. So I’m glad 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 stunning and romantic tones, and Robert himself provides a touching interpretation, in his usually trustworthy and considerate approach.
“I don’t suppose that is an important success of my profession. An important one has nothing to do with racing, to be trustworthy. 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 exhausting to just accept issues, to restart, to search out peace of thoughts, to cease dwelling with the ‘what if it hadn’t occurred’ mindset, and as an alternative to deal with targets and milestones. Accepting your limits could seem simple, however for me, it was something however.”
“Let’s say that at the moment destiny gave me one thing again, at the very least in sporting phrases. It’s an enormous outcome. I’m the sort of one that didn’t even take pleasure in my Formulation 1 win on the time—possibly tomorrow I’ll handle to take pleasure in this yet one more. Proper now, I’m additionally drained—we’ve gone many hours with out sleep, at the very least the previous 38. I solely slept two hours, however possibly 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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