How did the ex-Formula 1 drivers fare at Le Mans?

Study the grid of the Le Mans 24hrs these days and you’ll find a huge amount of ex-Formula 1 drivers trying their hand at endurance racing. They’re all at it, from F1 World Championship winners all the way down to one-race wonders – Le Mans is heaving with them.

Just take the winning number eight Toyota for example. Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima all have Formula 1 history. So, click on for a look at how the former-Formula drivers fared over the weekend. But be warned, some of these may test your F1 memory…

When did they race in F1? 2001 – 2018 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Toyota Gazoo Racing
Where did they finish? 1st

‘Nando has been trying his hand at quite a few different disciplines since his retirement from F1. The two-time World Champion is now a two-time Le Mans winner, but he still needs the Indy 500 to complete the 'Triple Crown'.

When did they race in F1? 2009 – 2012 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Toyota Gazoo Racing
Where did they finish? 1st 

Alongside his WEC season, Buemi is also competing in the Formula E championship. His ears must be so confused. He joined Alonso in the hybrid Toyota for his second win in as many years.

When did they race in F1? 2007 – 2009 
Who did they race for at Le Mans?  Toyota Gazoo Racing
Where did they finish? 1st 

Nakajima’s endurance career with Toyota has been slightly more successful than his time in F1 with Williams. The win at this weekend’s 24hrs meant the number eight Toyota also claimed the WEC title.

When did they race in F1? 2009 – 2012, 2014
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Toyota Gazoo Racing
Where did they finish? 2nd 

A fan favourite when he was in F1, Kobayashi proved he still has mega pace when he pulled away from Fernando Alonso during the early hours of Sunday morning. Luck was not on his side though, as punctures and pit stop errors gifted the sister Toyota the win.

When did they race in F1? 2010 – 2012 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? SMP Racing 
Where did they finish? 3rd 

Petrov became the first Russian in Formula 1 when he drove for Renault and Caterham back in the day. He’s now at the helm of an LMP1 car backed by Boris Rotenberg, founder of the SMP Bank of Russia.

When did they race in F1? 2016 – 2018 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? SMP Racing
Where did they finish? 3rd

Another current Formula E competitor, Vandoorne secured a podium place in his first visit to Le Mans. He has also already confirmed that he’ll be back next year. Someone’s keen.

When did they race in F1? 2010 – 2012 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Rebellion Racing
Where did they finish? 4th

Many expected the brightly-coloured Rebellion cars to be the main challengers to Toyota, but Senna and his co-drivers suffered delays early in the race and were never able to recover, only finishing fourth thanks to a three-minute penalty handed to their sister car.

When did they race in F1? 2014
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Rebellion Racing
Where did they finish? 4th 

Joining Senna in the fastest Rebellion car was Andre Lotterer. Remember him? No? The German replaced Kobayashi in the Caterham for the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, but managed just one lap in his only ever F1 race. How could you forget?

When did they race in F1? 2011 – 2013 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? United Autosports
Where did they finish? 9th (4th in LMP2 class)

The Scottish ex-Force India driver has built a varied career since leaving F1, including DTM. His United Autosports car finished just outside the LMP2 podium positions this weekend.

When did they race in F1? 2012 - 2014
Who did they race for at Le Mans? G-Drive Racing
Where did they finish? 11th (6th in LMP2)

Vergne’s F1 career with Toro Rosso was rather uneventful, but he’s the reigning Formula E champion and is currently leading this season’s championship too. He’d have been hoping for slightly better at Le Mans too, especially as this was his third attempt.

When did they race in F1? 2014 – 2015 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Panis Barthez Competition
Where did they finish? 13th (8th in LMP2 class)

Stevens, who drove for both Caterham and Marussia in F1, was at the wheel of former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez and former F1 driver Olivier Panis’ car at Le Mans this weekend. A strange pairing yes, but Barthez himself actually went one better, finishing 12th overall in 2016.

When did they race in F1? 2008 – 2009 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Ford Chip Ganassi Racing US
Where did they finish? 23rd (4th in GTE Pro) before disqualification

Bourdais’ brief foray into F1 with Toro Rosso certainly didn’t harm his reputation over in the US – built by taking part and impressing in both the Champ and Indy Car series’ – hence the Frenchman racing for Chip Ganassi in the Ford GT. Sadly, after missing out on a podium, his car was disqualified along with the Ford GT of Keating Motorsports that won the GTE Am class.

When did they race in F1? 2013
Who did they race for at Le Mans? Racing Team Nederland
Where did they finish? 27th (15th in LMP2)

Punctures, crashes and mechanical failures affected the brilliant-looking, Jumbo-liveried LMP2 car of former Caterham man van der Garde. Props to the team though who still managed to get the car to the end of the race, and we have to thank Giedo for making us laugh on Twitter.

When did they race in F1? 2011 – 2015 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? DragonSpeed
Where did they finish? DNF

Ahh Pastor, never change. The Venezuelan of course had a slightly crashy reputation during his time in F1, and old demons came back to haunt him as he binned his DragonSpeed LMP2 car at Tertre Rouge 17 hours in.

When did they race in F1? 2018 
Who did they race for at Le Mans? SMP Racing
Where did they finish? DNF

Sirotkin raced for Williams in the 2018 F1 season, scoring a single point at the Italian Grand Prix. His Le Mans hopes were ended when teammate and fellow Russian Egor Orudzhev crashed heavily at the Porsche Curves.

When did they race in F1? 1999
Who did they race for at Le Mans? SMP Racing
Where did they finish? DNF

Sarrazin may not be a household F1 name. In fact, he only took part in one race for Minardi all the way back in 1999, but his career has proven that there is certainly life after what many consider the biggest championship of them all. He’s been on the podium six times at Le Mans in the past, but it wasn’t to be this year.