5 F1 winners who have driven in NASCAR feat. Kimi Raikkonen

Formula 1 and NASCAR are two very different forms of motorsports. F1 cars are faster than NASCAR's muscle stock cars and trucks and therefore, are more sophisticated. However, as a sport, NASCAR is more ruthless due to its nuance of contact. With that said, some drivers have shown equal prowess driving in both.

The list of Formula 1 drivers who have taken part in NASCAR is long in the first place. Furthermore, several drivers have emerged victorious in F1 races and then run a NASCAR stock car. In this article, we'll explore five such F1 winners who have also driven NASCAR stock cars.

1. Kimi Raikkonen

Kimi Raikkonen's racing journey began driving Finnish, Nordic, and European karts. In 2000, the Sauber Formula 1 team slated Raikkonen for a test. Seeing his abilities behind the wheel, the team signed him in 2001. Raikkonen was 21 back then.

Kimi Raikkonen at the FIA Formula One World Championship 2013, Grand Prix of Spain (Source: Getty)

Throughout his illustrious career, Kimi Raikkonen has made 349 starts (his last one being the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP) driving for five different teams. He flaunts 21 wins, 103 podiums, 18 poles, 46 fastest laps, and the 2007 world championship title.

Raikkonen has also driven in a few Truck and Xfinity Series races back in 2011 during his F1 hiatus. Raikkonen walked away from formal F1 racing in 2021. The following year, NASCAR's Trackhouse Racing invited the Finnish driver to pilot the "Project 91" Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International. That was Raikkonen's official NASCAR debut.

Raikkonen also drove the Trackhouse Racing entry in NASCAR's inaugural road course race of 2023 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). Alongside Raikkonen, former F1 champion Jenson Button wheeled the No. 15 car for Rick Ware Racing.

2. Jenson Button

Jenson Button won 15 races throughout the 17 seasons that he has spent in Formula One. Two years after Raikkonen won the championship, Button replicated the feat with six victories.

Jenson Button at the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain (Source: Getty)

After having departed from F1 in 2016, Button drove the Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the 100th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. The Garage 56 is a joint endeavor by NASCAR, Chevrolet, Goodyear, and Hendrick Motorsports.

Button's debut NASCAR season (2023) was marked by a three-race deal with Rick Ware Racing. Button drove the #15 Mobi1 Ford Mustang at COTA, followed by the Chicago Road Course and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

3. Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya was the first and the only Colombian driver to join Formula 1 in 2001. Throughout 95 starts, Montoya has seven wins, 30 podiums, and 13 poles.

Juan Pablo Montoya at the F1 Grand Prix of Miami (Source: Getty)

Montoya has made 255 starts over nine years in NASCAR. His first race was in 2006 at Homestead-Miami and his last was the 2014 Brickyard 400. Montoya is set to return to NASCAR driving the No. 50 entry for 23XI Racing at Watkins Glen in September 2024.

4. Jacques Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve is a versatile genius when it comes to driving race cars. He took part in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Truck Series, Le Mans, Speedcars, Top Raceway, and even V8 Supercars. The Canadian has 165 starts in Formula 1 and boasts 11 wins, 23 podiums, and 13 poles. He won the world championship in 1997.

Jacques Villeneuve during the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023 Practice 3 And Qualifying (Source: Getty)

Villeneuve made his NASCAR debut in the Nextel Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007. His last NASCAR race was the 2022 Daytona 500.

5. Lewis Hamilton

The British Mercedes star owns 105 wins so far in his F1 career, besides 201 podiums and 104 poles. He also has seven world championships to his credit. Lewis Hamilton's most recent win was in the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton at the F1 Belgian Grand Prix 2024 (Source: Getty)

Although Hamilton has never driven a NASCAR car in a formal race, he took Tony Stewart's No. 14 Office DEPOT machine for a spin around Watkins Glen during a promotional event in 2011. However, whether Hamilton will drive in a future NASCAR race remains unknown.