The last 10 generations of successful drivers in other disciplines

Does the name Marcus Ericsson ring a bell? Beyond recently making headlines for the rumors he started about James Vowles and Logan Sargeant, Marcus Ericsson is among the former Formula 1 drivers who have found success in another motorsport series. And he is far from being the only one. This practice of leaving Formula 1 to compete in a new motorsport series is quite common. Some current drivers on the grid, such as Fernando Alonso, have indeed left Formula 1 for another discipline before making a comeback a few years later. Other drivers have permanently left the world of Formula 1 to join another series and have found greater success there. Let’s take a look back at the full-time drivers of the last ten years who have successfully made a transfer to another discipline.

Marcus Ericsson: From Formula 1 to IndyCar

Marcus Ericsson, who arrived in 2014 with Caterham in Formula 1, spent four seasons on the championship grid. The Swedish driver, who never managed to finish a season in the top 10 of the drivers, has found more success in IndyCar. He notably succeeded in winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2022, one of the three most prestigious races in the world, alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Jenson Button: From the World Championship to Endurance

Another name that can bring back many memories is that of Jenson Button, Formula 1 world champion in 2009. Engaged in the discipline from 2000 until 2016 as a full-time driver, he enjoyed as much success as Marcus Ericsson. After his departure, Jenson Button chose to turn towards endurance racing rather than IndyCar. Champion of the Super GT world in 2018, he now competes in the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship, with which he has participated in the 24 hours of Le Mans three times.

Felipe Massa: A brief stint in Formula E

Felipe Massa, who was engaged in Formula 1 for 15 years, chose another path by turning to Formula E, for which he raced two seasons in 2019 and 2020. While still making headlines for his story with Lewis Hamilton, he has officially left the world of motorsport. However, he continues to participate in some races, including the 24 Hours of Daytona at the beginning of the year.

Kimi Räikkönen: A NASCAR Excursion

The former Formula 1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen, involved in Formula 1 for 19 seasons, is one of those who have not completely left the world of motor sports. Nicknamed Iceman because of his temperament, he is one of the drivers who have never left the minds. Even though he did not secure an official seat for an entire season, he took part in several races in NASCAR last year.

Romain Grosjean: The accident that marked his life

If a driver has left a mark on the world of Formula 1 forever, it is the Frenchman Romain Grosjean. Victim of a serious accident in 2020 after a contact with Daniil Kvyat during a Grand Prix, he ended his Formula 1 career in the same season. After a few months of rest, as early as 2021, he joined the IndyCar championship in America, where he still competes.

Russia in Endurance: Daniil Kvyat, Nikita Mazepin, and Sergey Sirotkin

The world of Formula 1 has not seen many Russian drivers throughout its history. Among them, Daniil Kvyat and Nikita Mazepin. Both present in the Formula 1 championship in the 2020s, they have now found their happiness in Endurance. Daniil Kvyat, confirmed at Prema in 2023 and Iron Lynx in 2024, has joined the FIA WEC endurance championship. He has also participated in some NASCAR races, although he mainly focuses on endurance. On his side, Nikita Mazepin has turned to the Asian Le Mans Series, an Asian endurance championship. Sergey Sirotkin, the third Russian driver who had participated in the Formula 1 championship in 2018, also had a brief career in WEC with SMP Racing. He has now left the discipline to focus on karting.

Kamui Kobayashi: A round trip in Asia

Kamui Kobayashi, one of the drivers involved in Formula 1 over the past ten years, first turned to Super Formula, the Japanese single-seater championship. He stayed in Asia for only one year before joining endurance racing with Toyota Gazoo Racing, where he has been very successful. Twice world champion in FIA WEC in Hypercar, he has finished each of his seasons on the podium of the best drivers.

Esteban Gutierrez and Jean-Eric Vergne: From three seasons in F1 to success in Formula E.

Pilots Esteban Gutiérrez and Jean-Éric Vergne, who competed in Formula 1 for three seasons, have found a new career path in the world of Formula E. However, they did not achieve the same level of success. Jean-Éric Vergne, the French driver who left Toro Rosso in 2014, has been a two-time world champion in the electric racing discipline. On the other hand, his colleague has not been able to secure a spot in the automotive world despite racing for Techeetah in a few races. Since then, Esteban Gutiérrez has left the world of motorsport.

Antonio Giovinazzi and Robert Kubica: Drivers committed to Ferrari

If there is one nationality that has always been present in Formula 1 for a long time, it is definitely Italy. During the 2014-2024 period, the premier discipline welcomed the Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo, now Stake F1. The driver, who has not yet been victorious in Formula 1, has finally found success in endurance. He notably won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 with Ferrari AF Corse. It must be said that the Italian team knows how to attract former Formula 1 drivers. Robert Kubica, who competed in 6 full seasons until 2020, also found his way to Ferrari. He participated this year in the 24 Hours of Le Mans under the team’s colors, in a different vehicle than that of his teammate.

Pilots who have had a fleeting career in Formula 1

Contrary to the Polish driver Robert Kubica, many drivers have not had the chance to have a long career in Formula 1. This is the case of five drivers who have not had more than two seasons in recent years. The two Britons Will Stevens and Max Chilton both took different paths after their short-lived F1 career. While the former joined the FIA WEC endurance championship with Panis until 2021 and now Jota, the latter preferred to head towards the Indy Lights, the feeder series of Indycar, until 2022.

Three other drivers also had a short-lived career in the premier series. Felipe Nasr, who competed in 2015 and 2016 with Sauber, as well as Pascal Wehrlein and Brendon Hartley, who unfortunately only had one season in Formula 1. However, this does not seem to be a problem as Brendon Hartley’s career seems to have flourished after leaving Toro Rosso. Now in WEC with Toyota Gazoo Racing, he regularly occupies the top two positions on the podium. On his side, Pascal Wehrlein has turned to Formula E, where he is leading the championship halfway through the season. Felipe Nasr, who stayed one more year in Formula 1, has joined Porsche Penske, a rival of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team in the FIA WEC.

Mick Schumacher and Nyck de Vries: The most recent drivers

In the past two years, Formula 1 has welcomed several drivers that more recent fans have not yet forgotten. Mick Schumacher and Nyck de Vries, who most recently left the discipline, have already found placements in the world of motorsport. Mick Schumacher, still a reserve driver at Mercedes in Formula 1, has also committed to Alpine in the FIA WEC. On his side, Nyck de Vries, who was the Formula E champion in 2021, has confirmed his return to the electric series in 2023 and 2024. He is also participating in the WEC championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Stoffel Vandoorne: The most dynamic career

Among the few drivers who have not completely retired from Formula 1, Stoffel Vandoorne is one of those who are still reserves this year. Currently involved with Aston Martin, he successfully transitioned into multiple sports disciplines. In 2022, he notably became the Formula E champion with Mercedes. The year before, he had already taken part in the FIA World Endurance Championship as well as the Asian Le Mans Series.

In the end, even if Formula 1 seems to be one of the most inaccessible motorsports, it has welcomed many drivers from all walks of life in recent years. However, even though it opens its doors, it does not offer everyone the chance of a long career in the discipline. Nevertheless, even if the drivers’ careers end in the European championship, it is often a new story that begins after their transition to a new sport. Unfortunately, some of them did not have this chance and saw their hopes vanish after their departure.