{"id":8386,"date":"2026-06-03T14:06:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T14:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motorsporttraveldestinations.com\/blog\/?p=8386"},"modified":"2026-06-03T14:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T14:06:43","slug":"exclusive-interview-with-2025-le-mans-24h-winner-phil-hanson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorsporttraveldestinations.com\/blog\/exclusive-interview-with-2025-le-mans-24h-winner-phil-hanson\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive interview with 2025 Le Mans 24h winner Phil Hanson\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Article by Alex Brundle\u00a0– Images courtesy of Ferrari<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Motorsport Travel Destinations asked me to interview Phil in the\u00a0build-up\u00a0to the 24 Hours of Le Mans,\u00a0I was naturally up for a chat with my old\u00a0stablemate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I thought about what questions I could ask\u00a0Phil that readers\u00a0would want\u00a0answered,\u00a0I immediately thought back to\u00a0the youngster\u00a0coming into\u00a0the same\u00a0LMP2 team\u00a0in 2019,\u00a0he was the new kid, me?\u00a0A seasoned pro deeply entrenched in my own racing exploits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was only 19 or so at the time, and after several years sharing a garage, remembering him engaging race by race in understanding the intricacies of sportscar racing from a standing start, it was truly remarkable to see him win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the #83 privateer Ferrari in 2025. A reminder of the relentless upward mobility that motorsport affords is part of the reason that we love it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Phil
Image: Ferrari<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This would be Phil\u2019s first interview as a Ferrari factory driver, a bit of an honour for me from a friend, as he\u2019s recently been rewarded for his effort with a multi-year deal as a Ferrari factory driver. The Prancing Horse clearly recognises his talent. Despite years of hard work to reach the goal, Phil is still only 26 years old! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I now attend Le Mans as a member of the media, a stop on my march around the world following F1 and sports cars. In commentary and presentation for Eurosport and TNT, our paths have diverged plenty in recent years. However, I remain immensely impressed by his achievements \u2013 not at all envious! (he lied) \u2013 We had a great time chatting about the Endurance season ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you enjoy it too\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Brundle:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiya mate – congratulations, firstly. You\u2019ve had a Christmas to think about it. How does it feel now coming into another World Endurance Championship season as a Le Mans winner?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil Hanson: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, really exciting. I\u2019ve reflected a lot on what it means to win and how it changes your mentality heading back. It reminds me a bit of LMP2. Once I\u2019d won Le Mans there, I didn\u2019t really want anything to do with the race unless it was to win again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the same now overall. I don\u2019t have much interest in finishing second like I might have before. Once you\u2019ve won Le Mans, anything else feels a little bit like a disappointment. The goal shifts. Before, a podium at Le Mans was a huge achievement in itself. Now, the target is just to win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, it\u2019s not getting any easier. There are more manufacturers than ever, more coming in the next few years, and the competition is intense. Last year was one of the closest finishes ever \u2013 what was it? 14 seconds to the Porsche? I honestly think it was one of the toughest Le Mans races to win, and it\u2019s only going to get harder. My expectations have gone up -but so has the level of competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You talk about how difficult Le Mans is now – more manufacturers, more depth. Everyone knows you\u2019ve got to be quick and consistent. But what\u2019s the most underrated skill in the current era?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reliability – or rather, the lack of attrition – has changed everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, if you looked after the car and stayed consistent, you\u2019d naturally move forward as others hit mechanical problems. That\u2019s far less the case now. The cars are so strong that most retirements come from driving mistakes, not failures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Le Mans has basically become a 24-hour sprint race. You push flat-out the entire time because you know the car can take it. The flip side is there\u2019s zero margin for error. You can\u2019t cruise at night or back off in the early hours like drivers once did. Every lap matters, and mistakes, penalties, track limits, small errors cost massively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Phil
Image: Ferrari<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With that many cars still in contention, you\u2019re always under pressure. Is it different jumping into a car that can win overall versus one that can win class?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, for me the pressure felt similar – just at different points in my career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was in LMP2, that was my world. Winning that class was the peak of what I felt I could achieve at the time, so the pressure felt just as big. I wasn\u2019t even thinking about Hypercar back then – I was focused on mastering LMP2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I\u2019ve grown into hypercar and overall contention. My expectations of myself have risen with that progression, so the pressure feels natural rather than overwhelming. It\u2019s less about class versus overall – more about where you are in your career and what you expect from yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve raced with great teams, but stepping into a Ferrari hypercar is another level. Does becoming a works driver change the experience?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, but the biggest steps all happened within hypercar itself. First, just being a driver in the top class was a jump. Then moving into Ferrari was another – the fanbase alone is incredible. You feel the support everywhere, especially at Le Mans. People cheer for Ferrari regardless of who\u2019s driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then becoming a factory driver adds another layer. You\u2019re more embedded in the brand, closer to the \u201cfamily.\u201d I haven\u2019t fully experienced that trackside yet since the announcement only came recently, but I expect you\u2019ll feel it most at European races -Imola especially. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the outside it looks like the same seat, same car – just with a works title. What actually changes day-to-day?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are real differences, mostly away from the track. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s more responsibility – time in Maranello, simulator work, development programmes, GT testing, Evo kit running. More media, more manufacturer commitments. Ferrari is huge, so there\u2019s a lot commercially and technically around the racing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But once you\u2019re at the track, the job\u2019s the same – perform, win, deliver results. That doesn\u2019t change. Sometimes you\u2019re racing the other Ferraris, sometimes playing the team game. It\u2019s competitive but very sporting across the cars, which I like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Le
Image: Ferrari<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s talk about the race itself. Fans see you flash through the Porsche Curves every few minutes – but what\u2019s the hardest part of driving this hypercar era at Le Mans?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The intensity. These aren\u2019t the fastest Le Mans cars ever, but the technology and reliability mean everyone can push constantly. And with 20-plus hypercars now, you\u2019re never getting a break. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, you might build a one-minute lead and manage it. Now you\u2019re lucky to have 20 seconds. The pressure never drops. It\u2019s like any WEC race, just stretched over 24 hours with far higher stakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The focus required is relentless. Drivers describe it as entering a mental \u201czone\u201d where your mind almost blanks. But funny things still creep in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll be flat-out at night and suddenly think, what\u2019s that smell? Barbecue. Because the fans are back for race week. Or you see flashes at Arnage – photographers on the bank that weren\u2019t there in testing. Even the extra light from campsites changes visibility. Little sensory details cut through even when you\u2019re fully locked in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I used to get that out-of-body moment, realising the race you\u2019d built your life around was actually happening.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly. You look forward to it for months, then halfway through think: This is it. It\u2019s happening right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the week builds so slowly -then suddenly it\u2019s race day and you feel underprepared, even though you\u2019ve been there all week waiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is that the biggest misconception, just how much focus it takes?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, and the preparation. People think preparation is the season leading in, then the race itself. They forget the month before Le Mans. The car prep, the microscopic checks, the fitness work, the logistics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teams arrive earlier every year. Garages, trucks, infrastructure – it\u2019s weeks of work. The 24 hours is just the visible part. For crews doing 30-plus pit stops, it\u2019s relentless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve always taken fitness seriously. How physical are these cars now?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In pure forces, LMP2 in its peak was probably tougher. But the race intensity is higher now, which brings a different fatigue – more mental load, more sustained focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experience helps. After nine Le Mans starts, you know what to expect physically. Confidence reduces the strain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was actually surprised how intense Ferrari\u2019s drivers are about fitness – cycling especially. Living in Monaco and Italy helps! But it shows how seriously everyone takes the physical side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Phil
Image: Ferrari<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ferrari hypercar looks like a fairytale from the outside – success straight away. Inside the garage, is it as impressive as it seems?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest difference isn\u2019t what you see at the track – it\u2019s the culture behind the scenes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s relentless pressure internally to find performance, even with tightly controlled regulations. Development is limited, so gains come from data, setup work, constant re-evaluation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three-car data pool helps massively. But it\u2019s also Ferrari\u2019s heritage – the expectation is to win, not participate. That mindset runs through everyone, from engineers to media staff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferrari is built on motorsport success in a way few manufacturers are. You feel that shared ambition everywhere -and it drives performance higher every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final one -what\u2019s top of your debrief sheet heading into 2026?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuity and knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time we\u2019ve got driver consistency in the #83 crew. I\u2019ve got a full season of experience with the car, so everything becomes second nature – switches, systems, behaviours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We now have data from every circuit, including ones you can\u2019t test at like Fuji or S\u00e3o Paulo. Understanding tyre degradation, race evolution, wet performance, all of that builds confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setups evolved a lot from \u201924 to \u201925, and there\u2019s still performance to unlock. Personally, I can now give clearer feedback and direction, which is crucial when you might only get 30\u201340 minutes of practice in a race weekend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every lap counts. But now it\u2019s laps on top of a full year of knowledge – and that makes a huge difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Le Mans Entertainment: What’s on at our Motorsport Travel Destinations sites in 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>