Ferrari has named 2025 Le Mans winner Phil Hanson as an official factory driver, following the signing of a multi-year contract between the 27-year-old and the Prancing Horse.
Hanson piloted the privateer #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P Hypercar in last year’s FIA World Endurance Championship alongside Ye Yifei and Robert Kubica, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finishing as runner-up in the drivers’ world championship.
This was the culmination of a decade-long climb through the prototype ladder for the Briton, during which he won LMP2 titles in the FIA WEC, and Asian and European Le Mans Series’, and the LMP2 category at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Hanson made the step up to the top class in 2024, driving customer Porsche 963s in both the FIA WEC and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup, before switching to AF Corse’s #83 entry last term.
Hanson is expected to return to the #83 499P in 2026, alongside fellow Ferrari factory driver Ye, though the Chinese racer is the only confirmed name in the car at the time of writing.
“I am immensely proud to join Ferrari as an official factory driver and to continue my journey in the FIA WEC,” Hanson said.
“I have admired Ferrari since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until working alongside Ferrari in 2025 that I came to appreciate the team’s relentless pursuit of winning. I am honoured to be able to continue to build on the success achieved last season, but above all to become part of the Prancing Horse family.”
Antonello Coletta, Global Head of Ferrari Endurance and Corse Clienti, commented: “After a successful season with the AF Corse team, during which he not only won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the #83 499P but also showed consistency and excellent performance throughout the championship, finishing second in the Drivers’ World Championship standings with his teammates, Phil has earned Ferrari’s full confidence.
“We are therefore delighted to welcome him into our family as part of the group of official drivers, convinced that the journey we are about to undertake will continue to be successful, just like the 2025 season.”
The 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship begins with the Qatar 1812KM on 26th to 28th March 2026.
Image courtesy of Ferrari
