Next week is the 2024 United States Grand Prix, and we’ll see a change on the starting grid as the New Zealander Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
We’ve already discussed Daniel Ricciardo‘s forced retirement, and now it’s time for him to take a new direction in his career. Known for his late braking style, which made him a fierce competitor on track, and his fondness for American culture and entertainment, I could easily see him racing in NASCAR or IndyCar next year. Now, let’s take a look at three drivers who successfully transitioned into other motorsports after their Formula 1 careers.
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Kimi Räikkönen: From Formula 1 to NASCAR
The Finnish driver, who became world champion in 2007 with Scuderia Ferrari, left Formula 1 in 2021 after two seasons with Sauber Alfa Romeo. Known for his “Iceman” persona, here’s a summary of his impressive record:
- Number of races: 353
- Wins: 21
- Podiums: 103
- Poles position: 18
After his stellar F1 career, Räikkönen joined the NASCAR Cup Series two years ago. This wasn’t his first experience in the series, as he had a brief stint in NASCAR back in 2011. He has occasionally participated in rally racing, karting, and ice driving.
Felipe Massa: The Fallen Champion Racing in Formula E
The Brazilian driver, famous for being Michael Schumacher’s teammate, left Formula 1 in 2017. He was the 2008 world vice-champion after one of the most dramatic seasons in F1 history. Here’s a summary of his achievements:
- Number of races: 269
- Wins: 11
- Podiums: 41
- Poles position: 16
After leaving F1, Massa joined Formula E in 2018 and raced until 2020 for the Venturi team. Unfortunately, he didn’t secure any wins, but he did manage to score points during his time in the electric racing series. He has occasionally been involved in GT racing events, participating in endurance races
Robert Kubica: Endurance Beyond Limits
Kubica was one of the standout drivers in 2010. Despite driving a less competitive car, he scored significant points and made it to the podium. In 2011, he suffered a serious rally accident that left him severely injured. After a one-year absence, he returned to Formula 1 with Williams in 2019 but eventually left the paddock for good. His record in F1 includes:
- Number of races: 99
- Win: 1
- Podiums: 12
- Pole position: 1
As a passionate rally enthusiast, Kubica naturally competed in WRC and even won WRC-2 races. In 2021, he joined the ELMS (European Le Mans Series) in the LMP2 category. He even raced in the WEC for the WRT team and achieved victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, again in LMP2.
What’s funny is that it seems difficult to give up driving after having raced in Formula 1. Räikkönen, Massa, and Kubica had very different careers in F1, but they share the common desire to continue racing. Other drivers have successfully made this post-F1 transition, and I will likely cover that in a new article. We can quickly mention Romain Grosjean, who, after his terrible crash during the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020, committed to racing in IndyCar. The most important thing in motorsport is to keep thriving!
