Robert Kubica has confirmed his departure from AF Corse’s Ferrari Hypercar programme, bringing his three-year association with the Italian team to an end following the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season finale at Monza.
The Polish driver announced his decision through a video on Instagram after Sunday’s 6 Hours of Monza, where he finished sixth alongside Phil Hanson and Yifei Ye in the #83 Ferrari 499P. His departure marks the end of a successful partnership that included two WEC victories, most notably an overall triumph at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Although Kubica has confirmed that he will not continue with the yellow Ferrari in 2027, he has yet to announce his next move. Nevertheless, the former Formula 1 driver remains interested in continuing his endurance racing career, particularly at Le Mans.
Kubica confirms final race with AF Corse Ferrari
Following the conclusion of the 2026 WEC season, Kubica took to social media to announce his departure from AF Corse. Rather than reflecting extensively on his final campaign, the 41-year-old focused on confirming that his appearance at Monza marked the end of his time behind the wheel of the team’s distinctive yellow Ferrari 499P.
“Final race done, final season,” said Kubica. “I’m normally not used to summing it up and I don’t want to sum up the year, but just to let you know, this has been my last race in yellow.
“Yeah, that’s how it is. Let’s see what the future will bring.”
Kubica’s announcement followed a challenging final race for the #83 crew, which recovered from several setbacks to finish sixth. The result brought an end to a difficult season in which Kubica, Hanson and Ye struggled to replicate their success from the previous year.
Nevertheless, Kubica had demonstrated his pace throughout the Monza weekend, having topped Friday’s second Free Practice session before securing eighth during Hyperpole. However, the trio ultimately could not convert that competitiveness into a podium finish.
Three-year partnership highlighted by historic Le Mans victory
Kubica joined AF Corse’s customer Ferrari Hypercar programme in 2024 after securing the 2023 LMP2 Drivers’ Championship with Team WRT. His arrival marked the beginning of Ferrari’s third 499P entry in the WEC, providing the Italian manufacturer with an additional contender alongside its two factory-operated cars.
During his debut season, Kubica partnered Ye and Robert Shwartzman, with the trio securing the team’s first WEC victory at the 2024 Lone Star Le Mans. The result established AF Corse as a competitive force in Hypercar and provided the foundation for further success.
However, the partnership reached its defining moment in 2025 when Hanson replaced Shwartzman in the #83 crew. Together, Kubica, Hanson and Ye secured a historic overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, defeating Porsche Penske Motorsport’s #6 entry by just 14.084 seconds.
The victory made Kubica the first Polish driver to win Le Mans outright and delivered Ferrari’s third consecutive overall triumph at the French endurance classic. Furthermore, the AF Corse crew finished second in the 2025 Hypercar Drivers’ Championship, just 16 points behind the title-winning #51 Ferrari.
However, the 2026 campaign proved considerably more difficult. Despite retaining the same driver combination, the #83 crew failed to secure a podium, with two fifth-place finishes representing its strongest results of the season.
Kubica uncertain about 2027 plans but targets Le Mans return
Despite confirming his departure, Kubica has not ruled out continuing in the WEC or competing in future editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Speaking in a statement supplied by AF Corse, the Pole acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his next steps while outlining his desire to return to the championship.
“I don’t know what I will be doing,” he said in a statement supplied by AF Corse. “I know more or less what I would like to do.
He continued, “I would like to come back here but I don’t know if that will be the case. We will have to see. I always said Le Mans is the race I would like to have a go at again and try to win it.
“I’ve always performed in each edition I did in LMP2 or Hypercar. It would be good to have the opportunity and I would definitely like to do Le Mans, maybe more.
“Realistically, we will have to wait to see what the future will bring.”
Kubica’s ambition to return to Le Mans reflects his longstanding connection with the event. Before his 2025 victory, he had already experienced both success and disappointment at the Circuit de la Sarthe, including a heartbreaking retirement while leading the LMP2 category during the closing stages of the 2021 race.
His eventual overall victory with AF Corse therefore represented a significant personal achievement, particularly following his recovery from the severe rally accident that disrupted his Formula 1 career in 2011.
Although Kubica has not identified a potential destination for 2027, his comments suggest that another opportunity to compete for overall victory at Le Mans remains a priority.
AF Corse yet to confirm Kubica replacement for 2027
Kubica’s departure also creates uncertainty surrounding the future driver line-up of the #83 Ferrari 499P. AF Corse has not yet announced a replacement for the Polish driver, although Hanson and Ye are expected to continue following their recent Ferrari factory driver contract agreements.
Unlike his teammates, Kubica competed for AF Corse independently rather than holding a direct factory contract with Ferrari. His departure therefore ends a distinctive arrangement that allowed the experienced former Formula 1 driver to compete in the manufacturer’s customer Hypercar programme.
Meanwhile, the wider Hypercar field continues to evolve ahead of 2027, with additional manufacturers preparing to join the championship. AF Corse must also finalise its plans for the upcoming season as competition for places on the grid intensifies.
For Kubica, the conclusion of his three-year spell with Ferrari marks another significant transition in a career that has already included Formula 1, rallying and endurance racing. Having achieved his ambition of winning Le Mans outright, the Pole now faces an uncertain future, although his determination to return to the French endurance classic remains clear.
