Sébastien Buemi might not have the flashiest profile in F1 History, but when it comes to sheer versatility, endurance, and quiet domination across disciplines, he’s a driver in a class of his own.
| Nationality | Swiss |
|---|---|
| Born | Sébastien Olivier Humbert Buemi 31 October 1988 Aigle, Vaud, Switzerland |
Born in Aigle, Switzerland, in 1988, Buemi rose through the single-seater ranks with impressive momentum. After stints in Formula 3 and GP2, he earned his F1 breakthrough with the Red Bull Junior Team, ultimately stepping into the spotlight in 2009 with Scuderia Toro Rosso—becoming the first Swiss driver in F1 since 1995.
Formula One
Toro Rosso: 2009–2011
Buemi’s F1 debut at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix was anything but tentative. Outqualifying his more experienced teammate and finishing in the points, he immediately proved he belonged. He followed it up with solid performances throughout his rookie season, often outperforming his car.
In 2010, he survived one of the most dramatic crashes in recent F1 history when both front wheels tore off at high speed during practice in China, walking away unscathed and unfazed. Buemi continued to deliver consistent performances through 2011, but was controversially dropped at the end of the season in favor of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Éric Vergne. Proof of Red Bull’s brutal and frequent driver changes.
Though his F1 career was cut short, Buemi’s racing story was just getting started.
Endurance Racing
From 2012, Buemi became a cornerstone of Toyota’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) program, helping transform the team into a dominant force. He claimed a joint-record four WEC titles (2014, 2018–19, 2022, 2023*) and has conquered the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans four times (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022).
When it came to endurance racing, Buemi was not just a regular contender—he became a modern-day titan.
Formula E Champion
Buemi was also an early driver in Formula E, joining Renault e.dams for the first season in 2014. After finishing runner-up in Season 1, he stormed to the 2015–16 championship title. Over multiple seasons, Buemi became one of the most successful and consistent drivers in the series’ history.
Red Bull’s Ever-Reliable Reserve
Though he hasn’t raced in F1 since 2011, Buemi has remained a trusted figure at Red Bull Racing, serving as a test and reserve driver across multiple seasons, including technical development roles and simulator work.
From Formula One rookie to world-beating endurance champion, Sébastien Buemi has carved a unique path. While he may not grab headlines like some of his peers, in the paddock, he’s respected as a true professional, a driver with incredible adaptability and a trophy cabinet that speaks for itself.
Sebastien Buemi Formula One World Championship career
| Active years | 2009–2011 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Toro Rosso |
| Entries | 55 (55 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 29 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 2009 Australian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix |
Sebastien Buemi Teammates
| 4 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sébastien Bourdais | 9 | 2009 | |
| Jaime Alguersuari | 46 | 2009 | 2011 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | 8 | 2011 | |
| Jean-Eric Vergne | 3 | 2011 |
Sebastien Buemi 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 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Toro Rosso STR4 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | AUS 7 | MAL 16† | CHN 8 | BHR 17 | ESP Ret | MON Ret | TUR 15 | GBR 18 | GER 16 | HUN 16 | EUR Ret | BEL 12 | ITA 13† | SIN Ret | JPN Ret | BRA 7 | ABU 8 | 16th | 6 | ||
| 2010 | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Toro Rosso STR5 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | BHR 16† | AUS Ret | MAL 11 | CHN Ret | ESP Ret | MON 10 | TUR 16 | CAN 8 | EUR 9 | GBR 12 | GER Ret | HUN 12 | BEL 12 | ITA 11 | SIN 14 | JPN 10 | KOR Ret | BRA 13 | ABU 15 | 16th | 8 |
| 2011 | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Toro Rosso STR6 | Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 | AUS 8 | MAL 13 | CHN 14 | TUR 9 | ESP 14 | MON 10 | CAN 10 | EUR 13 | GBR Ret | GER 15 | HUN 8 | BEL Ret | ITA 10 | SIN 12 | JPN Ret | KOR 9 | IND Ret | ABU Ret | BRA 12 | 15th | 15 |
