LE MANS, FRANCE — Under the shimmering lights of La Sarthe and the ever-watchful gaze of racing history, Ferrari once again etched its name in motorsport legend. In a race marked not by chaos but by calculated precision and unyielding consistency, the Prancing Horse roared to a third consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, this time thanks to the No. 83 499P driven by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson.
Three years after returning to the top class of endurance racing, Ferrari has done what few dared to imagine: a triumphant hat-trick at the world’s most grueling endurance event. And in 2025, it was strategy, stamina, and steel-nerved driving that brought the red machine to glory—not sheer dominance.
Kubica Finally Claims Le Mans Redemption
For Robert Kubica, this was more than a victory. It was redemption. After narrowly missing out on Le Mans glory in previous campaigns, the former F1 star delivered a blistering final quintuple stint that sealed the win and banished the ghosts of past heartbreaks. Crowned World Endurance Champion in 2023, he now adds the coveted Le Mans winner title to his remarkable career.
“This means everything,” Kubica said post-race, his voice thick with emotion. “To win here, with Ferrari, after all the years—it’s a dream come true.”
The Strategic Edge That Made the Difference
Unlike the chaos-filled editions of years past, the 93rd 24 Hours of Le Mans was a study in control. With only one full-course safety car period—triggered by the No. 24 Nielsen Racing LMP2 car going off-track—the race boiled down to pure racecraft and razor-sharp strategy.
Ferrari didn’t dominate from the start. Qualifying was quiet, even modest. But seasoned observers noted the 499P’s pace during free practice—it was clear the Italians were playing a long game. And by lap 42, in the second hour, Antonio Fuoco had thrust the #50 Ferrari into the lead. By nightfall, the dream formation was in place: a Ferrari 1-2-3, with the #83 lurking ominously in contention.
However, it was far from a cruise. Penalties plagued the Maranello squad, from minor procedural infractions to traffic management violations. Those stumbles opened the door for Porsche, particularly the #6 963 of Estre, Campbell, and Vanthoor, who mounted a furious charge from the back of the Hypercar grid to the lead by the race’s second quarter.
But Porsche lacked staying power.
When the safety car reshuffled the pack before midnight, it was the #83 Ferrari that emerged best positioned, while Toyota’s #8 machine suffered a devastating mechanical issue—losing a front-left wheel—that ended their charge.
The Final Hours: A Red Wall of Resistance
As dawn broke, it became clear that the battle would come down to Ferrari vs. Porsche, with the #83 Ferrari holding a slender edge. In the final hours, Kubica was simply relentless, pounding out lap after lap in one of the most grueling quintuple stints seen in recent memory. The Porsche tried everything, but they simply couldn’t crack the red wall.
In the end, Kubica crossed the finish line with a multi-minute lead, punching the air in victory as Maranello erupted in celebration.
The Final Standings: Ferrari Dominate the Podium
Behind the victorious #83 came the #51 Ferrari of Calado, Giovinazzi, and Pier Guidi, who weathered their own storm of penalties and misfortune to claim a hard-earned second place. Completing the all-Italian podium sweep was the #50 Ferrari, which also showed pace but couldn’t stay clear of the stewards.
The #12 JOTA Cadillac, despite starting on pole, lacked the race-long consistency to challenge Ferrari and had to settle for fifth, while Toyota’s #7 GR010 Hybrid salvaged sixth place despite early damage. Alpine, in its first top-class Le Mans outing with the A424, quietly brought home a top-10 finish with the #35 car—solid, if not spectacular.
The Big Picture: A Le Mans for the Ages
Out of the 62 cars that started, 12 failed to finish—yet the race unfolded with rare discipline and focus. With just one safety car, the 2025 edition was decided not by luck or accident but by meticulous planning and flawless execution.
And in that kind of race, nobody does it better than Ferrari.
Three wins in three years. Maranello has not just returned—they’ve reclaimed the throne.
As the sun set on the Circuit de la Sarthe, one truth echoed through the paddock: In the heart of endurance racing, Ferrari is once again the master of time.