Robert Kubica wins at Le Mans, F1 drivers hail his performance
Fernando Alonso, George Russell and Fred Vasseur paid tribute to former F1 driver Robert Kubica, following his triumph at the 24h of Le Mans.

Robert Kubica, Phil Hanson, and Yifei Ye won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Ferrari 499P LMH No. 83 of the AF Corse satellite team. The former F1 driver delivered an impressive final stint to secure his team’s victory. He completed the last 59 laps without a functioning drink bottle and was at the wheel for 43% of the race.
An important victory
Although Robert Kubica’s F1 career never reached the heights that were promised to him before his terrible rally accident in 2011, this prestigious victory at Le Mans is a well-deserved reward for a driver Fernando Alonso once described as the best he had ever faced.
His triumph at Le Mans echoes that of the Spaniard himself, who had won the event in 2018 and 2019 during his F1 break. Fernando Alonso quickly congratulated his former rival on social media: « Bravo Robert », posted the Aston Martin driver.
For his part, George Russell – fresh from his victory in Canada – also praised the achievement: « Congratulations my mate for your victory at Le Mans, I am so happy for you!! », he wrote on social media. George Russell had been the teammate of Robert Kubica at Williams in 2019, when the Pole attempted a comeback in F1 after his accident, which had severely damaged his right arm.
Robert Kubica’s career has always fluctuated between moments of grace and tough blows. He survived a terrifying crash in Canada in 2007, while driving for BMW, before clinching his only F1 victory there the following year.
Yes, we did it! 💪
Winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025 🏆 pic.twitter.com/PtSOTz1MJL
— Robert Kubica (@R_Kubica) June 15, 2025
Victory at Le Mans: A Symbol
The fact that his victory at Le Mans coincides with the Canadian Grand Prix takes on a symbolic dimension, just like the fact that his last teammate in F1 won the Montreal race on the same day.
Winning Le Mans with Ferrari has a very special flavor for Robert Kubica, who would have signed a contract with the Scuderia for 2012 – a dream interrupted by his rally accident, which put an end to his ambitions with Ferrari in F1.
« A historic moment for Robert Kubica », wrote F1 commentator Alex Jacques, summarizing the general sentiment: « His dream of driving for Ferrari in F1 was shattered by an accident that would have ended most drivers’ careers. An LMP2 victory lost in the last lap in 2021 had added to the frustration. Today, his great comeback is accomplished. Congratulations to the entire team No. 83. »
The boss of Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, knows Robert Kubica well from working with him at Alfa Romeo, where he was a reserve driver, but also before, in F3 and Formula Renault. He wanted to pay tribute to him after the Canadian Grand Prix.
« I have a close relationship with Robert. He stayed with me for a few years at Alfa Romeo and before that in F3 and Formula Renault, » explained Fred Vasseur.
« For me, he’s an extraterrestrial. What he does is incredible, and winning at Le Mans in these conditions, being the leader of the car, is something I find hard to imagine. »
« I am really, really happy for Robert. He has had a chaotic career in motorsports, and when you see the level of effort he has put into his career, I am very, very happy that he can experience this kind of moment today », he concluded.
Read also: 24 Hours of Le Mans 2025: The list of former F1 drivers involved