Ferrari Makes It Three Straight as Kubica Earns Redemption at Le Mans

The 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans came to a dramatic close with Ferrari claiming a historic third straight overall victory. In a race packed with strategy, heartbreak, and redemption, the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P driven by Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, and Phil Hanson crossed the line first after 387 laps. They narrowly held off a hard-charging No. 6 Porsche Penske entry by just 14 seconds.

Kubica, whose Formula One career was derailed by a devastating rally crash in 2011, finally captured the Le Mans win that eluded him in 2021 when he lost victory in LMP2 on the final lap. His triumph in the top class on the world’s biggest endurance stage couldn’t have been more fitting or more emotional.

The race got underway in classic Le Mans fashion with a flyover from the French Air Force and a green flag waved by Roger Federer. Early on, Cadillac stunned the field by locking out the front row in Hyperpole. Both the No. 12 and No. 2 entries showed raw speed early but faded from contention by nightfall. Once again, Cadillac struggled to convert pace into endurance.

Ferrari moved into control by sunset. At one point during the night, the Maranello-based manufacturer held all three top spots, led by the privateer No. 83 entry. Porsche kept the pressure on with their factory Penske cars, particularly the No. 6 driven by Estre, Vanthoor, and Campbell. After a disastrous qualifying session, that car clawed its way from the back of the field and emerged as Ferrari's main challenger by dawn.

As pit cycles evened out, the final six hours became a strategic deadlock. Porsche laid down fast laps in the cool morning hours while Ferrari managed tire wear, fuel, and power settings. With two hours remaining, AF Corse was instructed to reduce engine power to ensure reliability to the finish. That conservative approach proved decisive. Kubica soaked up pressure from Estre in the final stint and held track position to the checkered flag.

The No. 51 factory Ferrari rounded out the podium after a puncture forced an unscheduled stop in the final hour. Toyota salvaged fourth after a tough start to the week, while Cadillac’s pole-winning No. 2 dropped to sixth. The top ten saw all four Hypercar manufacturers represented, reflecting just how competitive this new era has become.

In LMP2, Inter Europol Competition delivered a controlled class win. Vlad Lomko, Clément Novalak, and Jakub Śmiechowski ran clean and fast with no major errors. It was a reminder that in a class where the gap is often just a few seconds over an hour, execution still wins races.

The debut of LMGT3 brought new energy to the lower tier with high-profile manufacturers and some of the best GT3 drivers in the world. Manthey PureRxcing came out on top with their Porsche 911 GT3 R. Klaus Bachler, Joel Sturm, and Alex Malykhin were faultless. Their victory was Porsche’s only win on the day but came with symbolic weight as the brand continues to lead in worldwide GT racing.

This was a statement win for Ferrari. Not only did they secure a third consecutive Le Mans victory, but they did it with a customer entry, something that felt nearly impossible a decade ago in top-level endurance racing. AF Corse’s preparation, execution, and in-race adjustments were on the level of any factory squad.

For Robert Kubica, this was a defining moment. A career of near-misses and injuries finally landed on one of racing’s biggest podiums. For Ferrari, it was another validation of their return to the front of international endurance racing. And for the fans, it was yet another reminder of why this event still matters in a crowded motorsport landscape.

Looking ahead, the championship heads to São Paulo. Ferrari carries the momentum, but Porsche looks increasingly complete with each round. Cadillac remains hungry and Toyota will be looking for answers. The 2025 Le Mans may be over, but the battle for this year's WEC crown is far from settled.