Motorsport fans were treated to a buffet of racing this past weekend, from the damp forest curves of Spa-Francorchamps to the flowing infield of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And if there’s one message the global motorsport scene delivered loud and clear, it’s that Formula 1 might be the pinnacle, but it’s far from the only stage for elite talent. In the 2025 FIA WEC 6 Hours of Spa and GMR Grand Prix of Indianapolis, former F1 drivers made headlines across multiple disciplines, showcasing that talent doesn’t retire, it simply relocates.
WEC 6 Hours of Spa: A Veteran Showcase in Hypercars
P1: Ferrari AF Corse’s Antonio Giovinazzi Finds Redemption
Antonio Giovinazzi’s F1 career with Alfa Romeo (2019–2021) was often defined by inconsistency and limited machinery. But at Spa, he delivered a career-redefining performance, steering Ferrari AF Corse to victory in a hard-fought six-hour endurance clash. After years of being seen as a capable but unpolished asset in the F1 midfield, this result suggested that endurance racing may be where he truly flourishes.
Giovinazzi’s composure under pressure, efficient stints, and synergy with the team reflect a maturity that wasn’t always visible during his F1 tenure. In a grid packed with talent, he stood tallest—and now enters Le Mans as a serious title threat.
P3: Alpine Endurance Team’s Mick Schumacher Comes of Age
Mick Schumacher, long in the shadow of his father’s legacy, is beginning to forge one of his own. While his 2021–2022 stint at Haas F1 was plagued by uncompetitive machinery and costly errors, Spa offered a glimpse into a driver transformed. Finishing third in Alpine’s Hypercar entry, Schumacher showed pace, strategic patience, and composure, traits that eluded him during his F1 climb.
This podium may not have made headlines in the F1 paddock, but in WEC circles, it’s a turning point. Mick’s driving seems freer, more confident, no longer burdened by the expectations that dogged him at Haas.
P4: Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Buemi & Hartley Are Reliable as Ever
Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso, 2009–2011) and Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso, 2017–2018) delivered yet another consistent finish in the #8 Toyota. Neither driver lit up their F1 campaigns, but in the world of endurance, they’ve become benchmarks for consistency and pace.
Their performance at Spa, clean stints, smart traffic management, and tire conservation, was a textbook example of how to run a top-tier WEC program. While the outright speed of Ferrari edged them out this weekend, Toyota’s depth remains formidable.
P6: Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac’s Button Still Shines
Jenson Button may be far removed from his 2009 World Championship with Brawn GP, but his Spa drive reminded fans of what made him elite. Now 45, Button brought measured aggression and smooth stint transitions to JOTA’s Cadillac entry.
Though they lacked the pace to contend for a podium, Button’s tire whispering and calm under pressure kept them in the top six. For someone whose F1 exit felt too soon, WEC offers him the longer-format chessboard where his finesse still plays beautifully.
P7: Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Kobayashi & de Vries Shows Grit Over Glamour
Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota/Sauber/Caterham, 2009–2014) and Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri, 2023) found themselves in a battle-heavy run to P7. Their weekend wasn’t without contact or challenge, but both drivers dug deep to keep Toyota in the points.
Kobayashi remains one of the most exciting overtakers of his era, even in an endurance setting. Meanwhile, de Vries looked sharper here than he ever managed to in his short F1 stint. While his Formula 1 flame dimmed fast, WEC is already proving a better fit, structured, technical, and reliant on consistency.
P9: Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Wehrlein Shows his Ceiling Again
Pascal Wehrlein’s F1 career (Manor, Sauber, 2016–2017) never quite delivered on early promise, and yet, his post-F1 story continues to impress. At Spa, he anchored Porsche’s Hypercar to a solid P9 finish, delivering efficient stints and calm risk management.
He doesn’t always dazzle, but Wehrlein remains a dependable asset who’s carved out a strong niche in Formula E and now in WEC. Spa reinforced the belief that he still has untapped potential in the right setting.
P10: BMW M Team WRT’s Magnussen Brings the Fight
Kevin Magnussen’s aggressive, no-nonsense driving made him a cult favorite in F1 (2014–2024), but in WEC, he’s learning to pace himself, literally. Still adapting to the unique demands of endurance racing, Magnussen’s raw competitiveness was evident, even if BMW lacked the performance window to contend for more than P10.
He’s still ironing out the edges in this discipline, but his determination and dogfight spirit remain magnetic. Expect more from him as the season unfolds.
P11: Peugeot TotalEnergies’s Di Resta & Vergne Keep Peugeot in Play
Paul di Resta (Force India/Williams, 2011–2017) and Jean-Éric Vergne (Toro Rosso, 2012–2014) aren’t headline names in 2025, but both delivered clean, intelligent stints that kept Peugeot in the top half.
Their run lacked drama, and perhaps pace, but made up for it in consistency and technical feedback. As Peugeot continues to refine its program, drivers like these offer invaluable development experience, even if they’re no longer fan darlings.
P30: AF Corse’s Kubica Battles On
Robert Kubica’s career has been one of motorsport’s most bittersweet tales. Once tipped for greatness with BMW Sauber and Renault, his 2011 rally crash changed everything. His 2019 return with Williams was heroic but uncompetitive. Yet here he is, in 2025, still racing at the highest level of endurance.
His P30 finish at Spa won’t move the needle on paper, but for longtime fans, it was a reminder of Kubica’s iron will. He’s still out there, still fighting, and still respected in every garage he walks through.
IndyCar: Familiar F1 Faces at the Speedway
P14: Alexander Rossi Goes From F1 Footnote to U.S. Mainstay
Alexander Rossi’s five-race F1 stint with Marussia in 2015 came and went quickly, but his motorsport career truly began in America. Now an IndyCar veteran, Rossi has cemented himself as a consistent contender with a career that includes a famous win at the 2016 Indy 500.
At the GMR Grand Prix, he finished P14, a middling result, but one that underscored his adaptability on a tricky track. Rossi’s IndyCar chapter continues to validate what many suspected in 2015: he simply needed the right stage.
P26: Marcus Ericsson’s Steady Hand On A Frustrating Weekend
Marcus Ericsson (Caterham/Sauber, 2014–2018) found his groove in IndyCar after years of being underrated in F1. A 2022 Indy 500 winner and consistent top-ten presence, Ericsson has evolved into one of the series’ most complete drivers.
This weekend, however, was an off one, P26 after struggling with car balance and strategy. Still, his trajectory remains one of motorsport’s best redemption arcs, particularly for fans who saw glimpses of skill buried in backmarker F1 cars.
Final Thoughts: A Weekend That Proved the Grid Is Global
Across Spa and Indianapolis, former F1 drivers reminded the world that talent doesn’t fade, it just migrates. From Giovinazzi’s redemption, to Schumacher’s rebirth, to Button’s enduring class and Ericsson’s hard-earned second act, it’s clear: the Formula 1 chapter may close, but the book is far from finished.
This was more than a race weekend. It was a global reunion of drivers who once shared the F1 paddock, and are now building entirely new legacies elsewhere.