Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, with only the top 20 drivers in the world earning a seat to drive for one of the ten teams. From Le Mans to NASCAR, various drivers have had short stints or raced in an entirely different motorsports series.
NASCAR is one of the biggest racing series apart from F1. The American-made organization is one of the top-ranked series in the world. It is vastly different from Formula 1, with oval circuits and cars built similar to the ones seen driving on the roads.
Several F1 drivers have competed in the American racing series throughout the years. Most notably, the iceman himself, Kimi Raikkonen, made appearances in the 2022 and 2023 Cup series.
Kimi Raikkonen made a few appearances in the American racing series. Courtesy of Ben Earp/Motorsport.com.
Although the Finnish driver didn’t win any races, he seemed to genuinely enjoy the series. Raikkonen preferred the “old-style” racing that NASCAR offered compared to the DRS used in Formula 1. He was able to take more risks in the American series than in its single-seater counterpart, proving to be a suitable option for Raikkonen.
Two current F1 drivers have even competed in a popular racing event as teammates. Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso raced with each other in the 24-hour Daytona in 2018, back when Norris was McLaren’s reserve driver.
Bad luck kept the team from a standout performance, putting them 38th overall. However, Norris’ stint in the endurance race showcased his potential and impressed Alonso, cementing his place as a driver to look out for.
Before he was Oscar Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber had a stint in the World Endurance Championship following his retirement from F1. He managed to claim the title alongside teammates Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard for Porsche in 2015.
Mark Webber celebrating his win for Porsche in WEC. Courtesy of Markwebber.com.
The Phoenix himself, Romain Grosjean, has been in multiple motorsports series. The injuries he sustained in Formula 1 due to his fiery crash ruled him out of his last season with Haas, prompting his move to Indycar.
The French driver signed with Dale Coyne Racing in 2021 and is now a reserve driver for Prema’s new team in the series. He is currently competing in the IMSA Sportscar Championship for Lamborghini but has no plans to close his chapter in Indycar.
Perhaps the most impressive driver to compete in various series to date is none other than Jim Clark. He remains the only driver to win an F1 World Championship and the Indy 500 in the same year, 1965. Winning a championship in the pinnacle of the sport, as well as in “the greatest spectacle of racing,” is a feat no other driver has managed to do after Clark.
Jim Clark made history with his back-to-back wins in F1 and the Indy 500. Courtesy of Indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
On top of those achievements, he was also the first British driver to win the Indy 500 and led 190 out of the 200 total laps. At the time of his death, he held the record for most wins, pole positions, and fastest laps and is a member of the Formula 1 Hall of Fame.
Moving over to the red, white, and blue, Mario Andretti was a dominant figure in motorsports as a whole. He won the F1 championship in 1978, being one of only two American drivers to claim the title. Andretti is the only driver to have won the Daytona 500, Indy 500, and F1 championship.
If you’re ever having the post-season blues and desperately waiting for Formula 1 on-track action, there are countless other series that can fill that void. Who knows, you might even see a familiar face during a race.
Edited by Reese Dlabach
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