Kubica: Le Mans Experience “Helps” More Than Past Win

Robert Kubica said that winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans “doesn’t help you” in future editions of the race, instead the AF Corse Ferrari driver reckoned the experience gained is more useful than the result.

The Pole triumphed in the satellite AF Corse-run Ferrari 499P last year alongside Yifei Ye and Phil Hanson to complete a hat-trick of Le Mans victories for the Italian brand.

But Kubica cautioned that result counts for very little this time around and is expecting a “challenging week” at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

“I would say it’s not a big difference,” he told Sportscar365 when asked about the impact of the 2025 success. “Of course what happened last year was very nice but it’s already 12 months ago.

“I don’t think the result matters but what is helping is, every year I come here, I know more about the race, I know more about on what to focus and what are the differences and this is probably the biggest factor.

“Experience helps and for sure the result of last year has been great but the result itself doesn’t help you.

“For now the feeling is good, as always I come with big respect towards this race and try to focus on the quality of the work we have to do and be concentrated and focused and we will see [what’s possible this year].”

The No. 83 Ferrari ended the Le Mans test day with the 15th fastest time, with the pick of the 499Ps eighth on the combined leaderboard and nearly a second adrift of the outright best.

Kubica is therefore expecting multiple manufacturers to be in the fight for victory this year after Ferrari had a clear advantage in 2025.

“One thing we can predict is I think there will be some cars that will be very competitive seeing the field of this year is much more compressed,” he said.

“Of course Le Mans is a different characteristic but still I’m expecting some cars being very, very strong.”

It has been a tricky start to the WEC campaign for the No. 83 trio as they languish in 11th place in the drivers’ standings after taking tenth and sixth places in the opening two events.

Kubica admitted a strategy blunder at the Imola season opener, where he completed more than 100 laps on a set of Medium compound Michelin Pilot Sport Endurance tires, which cost the squad points but felt they maximized the result at Spa and is therefore targeting Le Mans as a chance to regain some ground.

“The start of the season hasn’t been great, but it also hasn’t been so bad,” he said. “Unfortunately, we made the wrong call in Imola, which we wasted a lot of points.

“In Spa the feeling was we went home with the maximum we could achieve.

“But of course Le Mans is a double points [race] so big points will help us, but first we have to focus on our work and our approach and try to minimize risks and maximize opportunities and use the opportunities this race will offer us.

“For now the feeling is good, as always I come with big respect towards this race and try to focus on the quality of the work we have to do and be concentrated and focused and we will see.”