Felipe Nasr

Felipe Nasr Bio

Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Nasr is a Brazilian racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Born on 21 August 1992 in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, Nasr has established himself as one of the premier endurance racing drivers of his generation. His career spans Formula One, where he competed from 2015 to 2016, and championship-winning success in North American sports car racing. Nasr has claimed three IMSA SportsCar Championship titles and secured victories in prestigious endurance events including the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Early Life and Background

Born in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Nasr began karting in Brazil when he was seven years old. Between 2000 and 2007, he won several championship titles in Brazil during his formative racing years. Nasr is of Lebanese ancestry, with his grandfather having emigrated to Brazil in the 1960s. His family connection to motorsports runs deep, as he is the nephew of Amir Nasr, who owns one of the most successful South American Formula Three racing teams.

Amir Nasr’s team helped with the progression of many Brazilian drivers in junior formulas, including notable names such as Hélio Castroneves, Vítor Meira, Antônio Pizzonia, Luciano Burti, Bruno Junqueira, and Cristiano da Matta. This familial racing environment provided Nasr with valuable early exposure to the sport and connections that would prove instrumental throughout his career development. Nasr cites three-time Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna as his favorite driver and Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps as his favorite circuit.

Path to Professional Racing

Nasr made his open-wheel racing debut in the final round of the 2008 Formula BMW Americas season at Interlagos, claiming a podium finish in the second race. He moved to the European championship of Formula BMW in 2009 for EuroInternational, where he dominated the season. He finished 14 of the 16 races in the top two positions, won six races, secured five pole positions, and claimed the title by 104 points from teammate Daniel Juncadella.

For 2010, Nasr moved into the British Formula 3 Championship with Räikkönen Robertson Racing. He signed with Robertson Management, the organization that manages the career of former Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen. Nasr finished his debut British Formula 3 season in fifth position. The following year, he joined Carlin Motorsport and won the 2011 British Formula 3 Championship by 123 points over his teammate Kevin Magnussen. He also won the Sunoco Rolex 24 at Daytona Challenge, earning a drive in the 2012 Rolex 24 at Daytona where he finished third overall.

Felipe Nasr Career

GP2 Series Era (2012-2014)

Nasr signed with DAMS to race in the 2012 GP2 Series season with support from Brazilian sponsors Banco do Brasil and Eike Batista’s OGX. He was teamed with experienced driver Davide Valsecchi, who won the drivers’ championship. Nasr achieved four podium finishes, with a best finish of second at Spa, and finished tenth in the standings. His contribution helped DAMS win the teams’ championship, and he was the second highest-placed rookie overall, behind James Calado.

For the 2013 GP2 Series season, Nasr moved to Carlin, partnering British driver Jolyon Palmer. He believed he would be a title contender alongside James Calado and Marcus Ericsson, hoping to secure a Formula One seat by season’s end. Nasr finished the 2013 campaign fourth overall in the standings. He remained with Carlin for the 2014 season, partnering Colombian Julián Leal. He achieved his first GP2 win in the sprint race in Barcelona, followed by victories at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps. He fought for the championship with former teammate Palmer but finished third overall after losing second place by five points at Yas Marina.

Formula One (2014-2016)

It was confirmed on 22 February 2014 that Nasr would join Williams as the team’s reserve driver, participating in three tests and five free practice sessions across the season. He made his first appearance in first practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix, replacing Valtteri Bottas. On 5 November 2014, it was announced that Nasr would drive for Sauber in 2015 as a full-time Formula One driver.

In his debut race with Sauber at the Australian Grand Prix, Nasr finished fifth position, the highest placing for a Brazilian driver making a Grand Prix début. His finishing streak ended at the British Grand Prix when his gearbox failed on the way to the grid. In Japan, he suffered his first retirement due to mechanical failure on lap 51. Nasr finished his debut season with 27 points, placing 13th in the drivers’ championship. After a successful 2015 season, Sauber retained Nasr for 2016. Nasr’s and Sauber’s only points in 2016 came at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where he finished ninth, which helped Sauber overtake Manor in the constructors’ championship.

Cadillac Era with AXR (2018-2021)

After a year without racing competitively, Nasr entered the Prototype category of the 2018 IMSA SportsCar Championship, partnering Eric Curran at Whelen Engineering Racing in a Cadillac DPi-V.R. The duo started strong, finishing second at the 24 Hours of Daytona and third in the 12 Hours of Sebring. During round five at Belle Isle, Nasr held off a fresh-tyred Ricky Taylor to claim his maiden IMSA win. Nasr and Curran remained consistent throughout the season, scoring two more podiums, and clinched both the North American Endurance Cup and overall titles at the final round in Road Atlanta.

Nasr remained at the team for 2019, partnering compatriot Pipo Derani for the full season with Curran joining for endurance events. He finished second at Daytona after being overtaken by eventual winner Fernando Alonso before triumphing at Sebring. Despite limited podiums in the following races, victory at Petit Le Mans earned Nasr and Derani the Endurance Cup title, though they lost the overall crown by five points. For 2020, Nasr was forced to sit out after testing positive for COVID-19 but returned to race at Sebring, where he and Derani claimed victory. The 2021 season saw the Nasr-Derani combination win their second IMSA title after a fierce season-long battle, with Nasr crossing the line second at the season finale to secure the championship.

Porsche Penske Motorsport Era (2022-Present)

In December 2021, Nasr and Dane Cameron were the first drivers announced for the new Porsche Penske Motorsport project in the emerging LMDh category. In preparation for the Porsche 963 introduction in 2023, Penske entered the LMP2 class of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship. During 2022, Nasr also contested the three crown jewel events of the IMSA schedule in the GTD Pro class with Pfaff Motorsports. Along with Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell, he claimed a dramatic class win at Daytona, finished fifth at Sebring, and took third at Petit Le Mans.

For the 2023 season, Nasr partnered Campbell in the new 963 as part of Porsche Penske’s number 7 crew in the IMSA SportsCar Championship. In a challenging debut season for the car, Nasr and Campbell scored three podiums, including a controlling victory at Road America. They finished fifth in the drivers’ standings. Nasr was joined by Cameron for the 2024 IMSA season, with Campbell providing support in endurance events. Daytona became a crowning achievement for Nasr, who took victory after defending hard against a chasing Tom Blomqvist in the final hour. Consistent podium finishes throughout the season, including victories at Watkins Glen, helped Nasr and Cameron secure both the overall IMSA title and the Michelin Endurance Cup with a third-place finish at Petit Le Mans.

Driving Style and Strengths

Nasr has developed a reputation for excellence in endurance racing, demonstrating exceptional consistency over long-distance events. His strength in fuel strategy and race management has been pivotal in securing championship titles. Nasr excels at defending positions under pressure, as demonstrated in his Daytona victories where he fended off determined challenges. His ability to work seamlessly with different co-drivers across various team structures has been a hallmark of his sports car racing career.

Notable Races and Milestones

Nasr’s career is highlighted by victories in endurance racing’s most prestigious events. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2019 with AXR and again in 2025 with Team Penske. His 24 Hours of Daytona victories came in 2024 and 2025 with Porsche. These milestone wins, combined with his three IMSA SportsCar Championship titles in 2018, 2021, and 2024, establish Nasr among the elite drivers in modern endurance racing. His Formula One debut fifth place at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix remains a significant achievement in his open-wheel career.

Felipe Nasr Career Wins

Felipe Nasr has accumulated an impressive record of victories across multiple racing disciplines. His career spans from junior open-wheel championships to the highest levels of endurance sports car racing. Nasr’s most significant successes have come in IMSA competition, where he has established himself as a championship-winning driver capable of performing at the highest level in both prototype and GT categories.

IMSA SportsCar Championship Highlights

Nasr has claimed three IMSA SportsCar Championship titles across his career. His first championship came in 2018 driving a Cadillac for Whelen Engineering Racing alongside Eric Curran. He secured his second title in 2021 with co-driver Pipo Derani at Action Express Racing. His third championship arrived in 2024 driving the Porsche 963 for Porsche Penske Motorsport with Dane Cameron. These titles demonstrate his versatility across different manufacturers and classes within IMSA competition.

Endurance Classic Victories

Beyond championship titles, Nasr has secured victories in endurance racing’s crown jewel events. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2019 with Action Express Racing and repeated this achievement in 2025 with Team Penske. His 24 Hours of Daytona wins came consecutively in 2024 and 2025 driving for Porsche. These victories at two of the Triple Crown endurance events solidify Nasr’s status as one of the premier endurance racers of his generation.

Felipe Nasr Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Felipe Nasr comes from a family with deep connections to motorsports in South America. He is the nephew of Amir Nasr, who owns one of the most successful South American Formula Three racing teams. This team has been instrumental in developing numerous Brazilian drivers, including IndyCar champions like Hélio Castroneves and several Formula One drivers. Nasr’s family heritage includes Lebanese ancestry, with his grandfather having emigrated to Brazil in the 1960s.

Personal Life

Nasr lists his favorite hobbies as sports, fishing, and mechanics. He is multilingual, with the ability to speak Portuguese, English, and Italian. His favorite films include the Star Wars and James Bond series, while his musical preferences include Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Dire Straits. Nasr maintains an active presence on social media through platforms including Twitter and Instagram, where he connects with fans and shares updates on his racing career.

2025 Season Performance

Felipe Nasr enters the 2025 season as a defending IMSA SportsCar Championship champion, returning with Porsche Penske Motorsport. For the 2025 campaign, Nasr partners with Nick Tandy in the number 7 Porsche 963, continuing the team’s championship momentum from the previous season. This new driver pairing brings together two experienced Porsche factory drivers with proven track records in endurance racing success.

The 2025 season presents Nasr with the opportunity to defend his title against a competitive field of manufacturers and teams in the GTP class. With the Porsche 963 now in its third season of competition, the team benefits from continued development and refinement of the hybrid prototype. Nasr’s experience with the car and his proven ability to manage championship situations positions him well for another strong season. His focus will be on consistency at each round while targeting victory at the major endurance events including Daytona, Sebring, and Petit Le Mans.