Robert Kubica Departs AF Corse Ferrari in WEC
The veteran driver confirms his exit from the satellite team after three seasons.
1Kubica Announces Departure
Robert Kubica has officially confirmed he will not return to the AF Corse Ferrari team for the 2027 World Endurance Championship season. The 41-year-old driver made the announcement shortly after the Monza 6 Hours finale, where he finished in sixth place alongside his teammates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye.
2Three-Year Tenure Summary
Kubica joined the Ferrari satellite effort in 2024 following his successful LMP2 title campaign with WRT. His most significant achievement during this three-year stint was a victory at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours, where he played a pivotal role in helping Ferrari secure a third consecutive win at the event.
3Challenging Final Season
The 2026 season proved difficult for the #83 Ferrari crew, which struggled amid a broader downturn in the manufacturer's overall performance. While the factory-backed #50 and #51 cars secured wins and podiums, Kubica and his teammates were limited to a pair of fifth-place finishes as their best results this year.
4Unique Contractual Status
Unlike his teammates Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye, who are directly contracted by Ferrari as part of the factory stable, Kubica maintained a unique position. He raced independently with AF Corse throughout his tenure, operating without the direct manufacturer backing that supported the other drivers within the team's Hypercar entry.
5Future Uncertainties Remain
Kubica has not yet disclosed his racing plans for the 2027 season following his departure from the AF Corse program. Similarly, the team has not named a replacement for the former Formula 1 race winner, leaving a significant vacancy in the driver lineup for the upcoming World Endurance Championship campaign.
6Team Participation Risks
The future of AF Corse itself in the Hypercar category remains unconfirmed for the 2027 season. Their continued participation is dependent upon securing a formal entry, a process that has become increasingly competitive with the high-profile arrival of major manufacturers like Ford and McLaren into the top-tier endurance racing ranks.
7Context of WEC Evolution
The World Endurance Championship is currently undergoing a period of intense transformation with new manufacturers joining the Hypercar class. This influx of competition has raised the stakes for existing teams, forcing satellite operations to justify their grid spots against factory-backed efforts that bring significantly more resources and technical development to tracks.
8Legacy and Next Steps
Kubica’s departure marks the end of a notable chapter for the #83 Ferrari entry. As the series prepares for 2027, the focus shifts to how AF Corse will restructure its driver lineup and whether it can maintain its competitive standing in a rapidly evolving field of global endurance racing participants.
Original article: Autosport — Robert Kubica Departs AF Corse Ferrari in WEC