Felipe Nasr, born 21 August 1992 in Brasília, Brazil, carried the torch during a period of national change after the retirement of icons like Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello. Though his Formula One career lasted just two seasons, from 2015 to 2016, Nasr went on to forge a successful career in endurance racing, establishing himself as one of the top drivers in IMSA and sports car competition worldwide.
| Nationality | Brazilian |
|---|---|
| Born | Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr 21 August 1992 Brasília, Federal District, Brazil |
Nasr’s motorsport career began in Brazil’s vibrant karting series before moving into single-seaters. His European breakthrough came in 2009 when he won the Formula BMW Europe Championship with 10 wins from 16 races, defeating a competitive field and marking himself as a future star. Further success in British Formula 3—where he was crowned champion in 2011—and strong performances in GP2 established Nasr as a well-rounded, consistent talent.
His performances earned him a test driver role with Williams F1 in 2014, where he participated in five Free Practice 1 sessions and multiple tests, laying the groundwork for a full-time race seat the following year.
Formula One with Sauber (2015–2016): An Explosive Start
On 5 November 2014, Sauber announced Nasr would partner Marcus Ericsson for the 2015 Formula One season. In his Grand Prix debut at Melbourne, Nasr stunned the paddock by finishing fifth, scoring 10 points for a team that had failed to register a single point the year before. It remains the best-ever debut finish for a Brazilian driver and was a critical result for Sauber, boosting the team’s morale and financial standing.
Throughout the 2015 season, Nasr impressed with consistency and maturity. He scored points in China, Russia, Monaco, and Italy, finishing the season with 27 points, placing 13th in the 2015 Drivers’ Championship—well ahead of his more experienced teammate.
2016: A Struggle for Speed and Survival
Despite hopes of building on his rookie season, Nasr’s 2016 campaign was defined by Sauber’s financial struggles. The C35 chassis was underdeveloped, and both drivers were left fighting for scraps near the back of the grid. For most of the year, Nasr battled unrewarded, until a dramatic turn of events at the rain-soaked 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, his home race.
In an emotional drive at Interlagos, Nasr finished ninth, scoring Sauber’s only points of the season. This result lifted the team above Manor in the 2016 Constructors’ Championship, securing millions in prize money and effectively dooming Manor to bankruptcy. Ironically, Nasr had been rumoured to swap seats with Manor’s Pascal Wehrlein for 2017, but with Manor folding, he was left without a seat.
Nasr’s final Formula One start came at Abu Dhabi 2016, marking the end of a promising career cut short by financial politics more than performance.
Life After Formula One: Sports Car Success
After his F1 exit, Nasr reinvented himself in endurance racing. In 2018, he joined Whelen Engineering Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and immediately won the title alongside Eric Curran. He would go on to claim another championship in 2021 with fellow Brazilian Pipo Derani.
Nasr was named a Porsche factory driver in 2022, a significant recognition of his skill in the elite ranks of sports car racing.
Felipe Nasr Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 2015–2016 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Sauber |
| Car number | 12 |
| Entries | 40 (39 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 29 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2015 Australian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
Felipe Nasr Teammates
| 4 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valtteri Bottas | 5 | 2014 | |
| Felipe Massa | 5 | 2014 | |
| Marcus Ericsson | 40 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Raffaele Marciello | 4 | 2015 |
Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Williams Martini Racing | Williams FW36 | Mercedes PU106A Hybrid 1.6 V6 t | AUS | MAL | BHR TD | CHN TD | ESP TD | MON | CAN | AUT | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | SIN | JPN | RUS | USA TD | BRA TD | ABU | – | – | ||
| 2015 | Sauber F1 Team | Sauber C34 | Ferrari 060 1.6 V6 t | AUS 5 | MAL 12 | CHN 8 | BHR 12 | ESP 12 | MON 9 | CAN 16 | AUT 11 | GBR DNS | HUN 11 | BEL 11 | ITA 13 | SIN 10 | JPN 20 † | RUS 6 | USA 9 | MEX Ret | BRA 13 | ABU 15 | 13th | 27 | ||
| 2016 | Sauber F1 Team | Sauber C35 | Ferrari 061 1.6 V6 t | AUS 15 | BHR 14 | CHN 20 | RUS 16 | ESP 14 | MON Ret | CAN 18 | EUR 12 | AUT 13 | GBR 15 | HUN 17 | GER Ret | BEL 17 | ITA Ret | SIN 13 | MAL Ret | JPN 19 | USA 15 | MEX 15 | BRA 9 | ABU 16 | 17th | 2 |
