Strong Start to the Season for Sébastien Buemi at Qatar 1812km

Sébastien Buemi and his TOYOTA GAZOO Racing teammates secured a hard-fought fifth-place finish at the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Qatar 1812km at Lusail International Circuit.

Racing alongside Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa in the #8 GR010 HYBRID, Buemi demonstrated resilience and skill as he helped the team fight back from a challenging qualifying session. Despite starting from 17th, he made solid early progress, showcasing his trademark consistency and racecraft to climb into the top six within the first two hours.

Buemi’s first stint was crucial in establishing momentum for the team. After handing over to Brendon Hartley, the #8 car continued to push forward, capitalizing on safety car interventions and strategic pit stops to move up the order. By the fourth hour, the trio had fought their way into podium contention, with Buemi’s determined driving playing a key role in keeping the team in the hunt.

As the race entered its final stages, an intense battle for the top positions unfolded. Different tyre strategies saw the competition fluctuate, but Buemi remained focused, delivering a strong closing stint. In the final pit stop cycle, he moved ahead of the sister #7 Toyota into fifth place, securing valuable championship points to start the season on a strong note.

With 33 World Championship points collected, Buemi and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing now turn their attention to the next round, the 6 Hours of Imola on 20 April, where they will continue their quest for the title.

Sébastien Buemi:
“I’m proud of the effort we put in as a team today. It wasn’t an easy race, especially after our qualifying result, but we fought hard and executed a strong strategy. Finishing in the top five and scoring good points is a solid way to start the season, and we’ll keep pushing to improve at Imola.”