FelipeNasr

The Ascent Through Single-Seaters

Felipe Nasr, born Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr on August 21, 1992, in Brasília, Distrito Federal, began his racing journey in karting at age seven. He secured multiple Brazilian championship titles between 2000 and 2007, establishing a strong foundation for his career. His open-wheel debut came in 2008 at the Formula BMW Americas season finale at Interlagos, where he achieved a podium finish. In 2009, Nasr moved to the European Formula BMW championship with EuroInternational. He dominated the series, winning six races, securing five pole positions, and finishing fourteen of sixteen races in the top two, ultimately clinching the title by 104 points over teammate Daniel Juncadella. This success led to an invitation to test a Sauber F1 car, though it did not materialize. In 2010, Nasr progressed to the British Formula 3 Championship with Räikkönen Robertson Racing, finishing fifth. The following year, 2011, with Carlin Motorsport, he secured the British Formula 3 title by a significant 123-point margin over teammate Kevin Magnussen. During this period, he also earned a drive in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona by winning the Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge, finishing third overall and in class in the endurance event. His path continued into the GP2 Series. In 2012, driving for DAMS, Nasr secured four podium finishes, including a second place at Spa, and finished tenth in the drivers' standings, making him the second-highest placed rookie. He contributed to DAMS winning the teams' championship. Moving to Carlin in 2013, he finished fourth overall. The 2014 season, also with Carlin, saw Nasr achieve his maiden GP2 victory in Barcelona, followed by wins at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps. He contended for the championship, ultimately finishing third overall after a close battle, losing second place by five points to Stoffel Vandoorne.

Formula 1 Endeavor

Felipe Nasr's Formula 1 journey commenced in 2014 as a reserve driver for Williams, participating in three tests and five free practice sessions, including his first official appearance in FP1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. On November 5, 2014, Nasr was announced as a full-time Sauber F1 driver for the 2015 season. His debut at the Australian Grand Prix was notable, finishing fifth, the highest placement for a Brazilian driver on their Grand Prix début. He accumulated 27 points, finishing 13th in the drivers' championship, demonstrating consistent performance despite a gearbox failure at the British Grand Prix and a mechanical retirement in Japan. Sauber retained him for 2016. The 2016 season proved challenging. Nasr's sole points for the team came at his home race, the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he finished ninth. This crucial result allowed Sauber to overtake Manor in the constructors' championship, a shift that had significant financial repercussions for Manor, contributing to their eventual bankruptcy. Ironically, this outcome directly impacted Nasr's F1 future, as he was replaced by Pascal Wehrlein for 2017 and, with Manor's subsequent exit, was unable to secure another seat, concluding his two-season Formula 1 tenure.

Dominance in Endurance Racing

Following his Formula 1 departure, Felipe Nasr transitioned to endurance racing, where he has achieved significant success. In 2018, after a year out, he debuted in the IMSA SportsCar Championship Prototype category with Eric Curran at Whelen Engineering Racing. The duo quickly found form, securing second at the 24 Hours of Daytona and third at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Nasr's maiden IMSA victory came at Belle Isle, and consistent performance led to him and Curran clinching both the North American Endurance Cup and the overall IMSA title. In 2019, partnering Pipo Derani, Nasr won at Sebring and secured second at Daytona. Despite winning the Endurance Cup title at Petit Le Mans, they narrowly missed the overall championship by five points. The 2020 season saw Nasr and Derani claim victory at Sebring, following Nasr's return after missing a round due to COVID-19, adding four more podiums. The 2021 season was a championship-winning year for Nasr and Derani. They won the Daytona qualifying race and later secured victories at Watkins Glen and Road America. A dominant performance at Long Beach, starting from pole, further highlighted their strength. The season culminated dramatically at the finale, where Nasr's second-place finish, after a late-race battle and collision with Ricky Taylor, secured his second IMSA title, and his first with Derani. In 2022, Nasr joined the new Porsche Penske Motorsport LMDh project. He competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship LMP2 class, finishing fifth at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Concurrently, he achieved a dramatic class win at the Daytona 24 Hours in the GTD Pro class with Pfaff Motorsports, contributing to his teammates' GTD Pro title. The 2023 season saw Nasr partner Matt Campbell in the new Porsche 963 for Porsche Penske. They secured three podiums, including a commanding victory at Road America, finishing fifth in the standings. The 2024 season marked a pinnacle for Nasr, partnering Dane Cameron. They secured a memorable victory at Daytona, fiercely defending the lead. A series of podiums followed, including thirds at Sebring, Long Beach, and Laguna Seca, and a second win at Watkins Glen. Despite a power steering failure at Indianapolis, subsequent competitor disqualifications solidified their lead. A third-place finish at Petit Le Mans ultimately sealed both the overall IMSA title and the Michelin Endurance Cup for Nasr and Cameron. He is set to defend his title in 2025 with Nick Tandy.

Personal Profile

Felipe Nasr's heritage is Lebanese, with his grandfather having emigrated to Brazil in the 1960s. His interests include sports, fishing, and mechanics. He enjoys the Star Wars and James Bond film series, cites Ayrton Senna as his favorite driver, and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as his favorite track. He is the nephew of Amir Nasr, a prominent figure in South American Formula Three. His musical tastes include Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Dire Straits. Nasr is multilingual, speaking Portuguese, English, and Italian.