The first qualifying round for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans stunned fans as the Alpine Endurance Team’s #35 A424 secured provisional pole. The defending champions, AF Corse Ferrari's #83, failed to qualify for Hyperpole, finishing 17th after incurring penalties. Ferdinand Habsburg achieved the fastest time of 3m23.135, edging out Cadillac's Louis Deletraz by a mere 0.013 seconds. In LMP2, Doriane Pin dominated with a blazing 3m34.662, well ahead of competitors. This qualifying session sets the stage for an intense upcoming Hyperpole shootout.

By the Numbers
  • The #35 Alpine A424 set a time of 3m23.135, the fastest overall.
  • The #83 Ferrari finished in 17th place with a time of 3m25.495.
State of Play
  • 18 cars competed in the Hypercar session, with the bottom three locked into positions 16-18.
  • Notably, the top 15 from LMP2 and LMGT3 also advanced to Hyperpole, with significant disqualifications impacting the field.
What's Next

The forthcoming Hyperpole session will determine the final starting grid for the 24-hour race. Teams will also engage in night practice to further refine their setups. With competitive performances expected, the stakes are high for all teams aiming for pole position.

Bottom Line

The surprising shifts in qualifying highlight the unpredictable nature of endurance racing, underscoring the potential for surprises in the upcoming Hyperpole sessions. Teams must adapt quickly to leverage any advantages as the race approaches.