The best of both worlds: Five legendary F1 teams and their WEC legacies
Imagery courtesy of Pirelli Motorsport via X
Ferrari:The prancing horse never sleeps
The Scuderia quickly established itself as a powerhouse, winning their first Formula One (F1) race in 1951. Drivers like Alberto Ascari and Juan Manuel Fangio secured multiple drivers’ and constructors’ titles during the early years. Ferrari’s golden era was pure domination and considered the one of the most successful. Led by Michael Schumacher, technical director Ross Brawn and team principal Jean Todt, winning an unprecedented five consecutive drivers’ championships and six consecutive constructors titles.
While Ferrari is synonymous with F1, their return to top class endurance racing has been equally triumphant. Their return was driven, in part, by F1’s budget cap which left many skilled engineers and designers with reduced workloads. Rather than lay them off, they expanded its motorsport operations into (World Endurance Championship) WEC creating a new challenge for the team. The car has achieved significant success, including a stunning victory at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was Ferrari’s third consecutive win at the prestigious endurance race since their return to the top class, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since the 1960s. The victory secured their 12th over win at Le Mans and allowed them to permanently keep the winners’ trophy.
The dual successes of Ferrari in F1 and WEC are a testament to the enduring vision of their founder, Enzo Ferrari. Il Commendatore, as he was known, was deeply passionate about F1 and endurance racing. Throughout, Ferrari’s history, the F1 and endurance racing programs were often intertwined. The 499P Hypercar’s success in WEC with the last five years feels like a direct homage to this heritage showcasing the company’s ability to excel at the highest level of motorsport, just as Enzo had always intended.
Mercedes-Benz: Silver arrows centuries
Mercedes achieved unprecedented success with the introduction of the V6 turbo hybrid engines. Their engineers, particularly at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, designed a power unit that was far superior to their rivals. This technological advantage, combined with a dominant chassis and the talented of drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg allowed them to win a record eight consecutive constructors and seven consecutive drivers’ titles.
After a long hiatus, Mercedes-Benz returned to top level sports car racing in the 1980s, partnering with the Swiss team Sauber. The partnership produced the fearsome Sauber-Mercedes C9 which dominated the World Sportscar Championship and secured a famous one-two finish at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. This success paved the way for their eventual return to F1.
On the 11th of June 1955, a catastrophic crash involving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, driven by Pierre Levegh, resulted in the death of Levegh and at least 83 spectators, injured over 120 others. The car distinguished upon impact sending large pieces of debris flying into the crowded grandstand. In response to the tragedy, Mercedes-Benz immediately withdrew its remaining cars from the race and shortly after, completely pulled out of all motorsport for decades. The disaster led to major safety reforms at circuits around the world prompted several countries to ban motorsport events entirely. The event forced a critical re-evaluation of safety standards for both cars and tracks remains a sombre remainders of the inherent dangers of racing.
Renault/Alpine: French flair with global bite
Renault was a trailblazer in F1, introducing the first ever V6 turbo engine. While it initially struggled with reliability, the innovation revolutionised the sport paving the way for the high powered turbo era of the 1980s. This legacy of pushing technological boundaries is a core part of the brand’s identity. The team’s modern era success came in the mid 2000s under previous names, Renault F1 Team. Fernando Alonso secured back to back F1 driver’s World Championships in 2005 and 2006, ending the long standing dominance of Schumacher and Ferrari. This period of success cemented the team’s position as a top contender and delivered a massive victory for both the team and country of France.
Alpine partnership with the Signatech became a formidable force in LMP2 category of WEC. The team achieved significant success, including multiple class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and securing two LMP2 championships. This success provided a strong foundation and valuable experience for their next move. Building on their LMP2 achievements, Alpine has now joined the top tier Hypercar category. The brand is one of the few manufacturers competing at the highest level of both F1 and WEC, leveraging technical and technologies synergies between the two programs. The A424 Hypercar developed with expertise from their F1 program is a key part of their ambition to challenge for overall wins at Le Mans and WEC.
Renault’s decision to rebrand its F1 team as Alpine was a major part of a larger strategy to revitalise the historic sports car brand. By competing in two of the world’s most prestigious racing series. Alpine is showcasing its prowess and creating a halo effect for its road cars, re-establishing itself as top tier car brand.
McLaren: From endurance glory to F1 royalty
The late 1980s and early 1990s were an iconic period for McLaren, thanks to the fierce rivalry between team mates Ayrton Senna and Alain. Their battle for supremacy, both on and off track, drove the team to incredible heights. Together, they won all but one race in the 1988 season with the legendary MP4/4 cementing McLaren’s reputation for technical excellence and driver prowess. Beyond its drivers, McLaren has been a pioneer in F1 technology, including the first carbon fibre chassis in 1981 which revolutionised safety and design in the sport.
The McLaren F1 originally designed by Gordon Murray as a road car, not a race car. However, at the request of private teams, a racing version, the F1 GTR was developed. Minimal changes were made to the road car’s design making its success all the more remarkable. The F1 GTR beat purpose built prototype race cars which were expected to be much faster. The win was a huge upset and showcased the F1’s incredible design and reliability. It also allowed McLaren to claim the “Triple Crown of Motorsport” at the time, a feat achieved by only a handful of others.
In 2025, McLaren Racing announced its return to the FIA WEC Hyperclass, starting in 2027. The project called “Project: Endurance” is a collaboration between McLaren Racing and United Autosports. They will use an an LMDh- spec car with a V6 twin turbo engine and a chassis supplied by Dallara, a company they already work with in IndyCar. This return aims to rekindle the glory on their 1995 Le Mans victory and to race for the overall win at the most iconic endurance race in the world.
Sauber: The Swiss underdog with Silver Arrow spirit
The 2007 F1 World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen made a dramatic debut with Sauber in 2001. His raw speed and impressive performances in his rookie season immediately caught the attention of top teams, leading to a move to McLaren for the following year. Charles Leclerc, now a star at Ferrari, spent his rookie season with Sauber in 2018. his exceptional talent and a string of impressive performances earned him a coveted seat at the Scuderia, continuing the legacy of Sauber as a springboard for top drivers.
The collaboration culminated in a one-two finish for the Sauber-Mercedes C9 at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. The C9 was a dominant force, also securing the World Sportscar Championship title in 1989 and 1990. This period of success established Sauber’s reputation as a world class constructor and set the stage for its move into F1.
Despite being a small, independent team for much of its life, Sauber has been known for its technical innovation and efficiency. The team’s state of the art wind tunnel in Hinwill, Switzerland, has been a key asset. In a landmark deal, Sauber has been acquired by Audi and will transition into the German manufacturer’s official works team for the 2026 F1 season. This acquisition which began with a strategic partnership and has progressed to a full takeover, provides Sauber with the resources and factory backing it has long needed to compete at the very front of the grid.
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