Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula E

  • Forest Road purchases Formula E Team

    The Forest Road Company – a Los Angeles-based investment firm – has acquired 100% of the ERT Formula E Team, which becomes Kiro Race Co from Season 11.

    Forest Road brings a wealth of experience investing, operating and advising in industry sectors experiencing growth and transformation.
    As an opportunistic investor with a proven track record in both media and renewable energy, Fore Road is well-positioned to drive significant value for the team and Formula E.

    With the backing of Forest Road, as well as David Kaplan and Bennett Rosenthal, Co-Founders of Ares Management, Kiro Race Co is strategically placed for the long term and will be focused on driving sustained growth.

    David Kaplan will act as managing partner of the team, capitalising on his decades of investing and operating experience to achieve world-class performance.
    Together, this new ownership group brings a unique perspective to Formula E and is eager to leverage its extensive network to attract new partners and increase awareness of electric racing in the United States and around the world.

    The team also announced a technical partnership with Porsche Motorsport. The collaboration will see Kiro Race Co equipped with Porsche’s championship-winning powertrain technology.

    This is truly a historic moment for our team. Bringing a US-based asset management group like Forest Road into Formula E is a testament to the series’ growth and our team’s potential. Their investment allows us to build with confidence for the future and compete at the highest level. We are excited to work with them and Porsche Motorsport to achieve our goals.
    Alex Hui, Team Principal of Kiro Race Co.

    We are thrilled to enter The Formula E World Championship and start our journey as Kiro Race Co. The Championship is at a pivotal moment of maturation from a macro and micro perspective. As the world embarks on a massive transition to electric vehicles, the race product has achieved a significant breakthrough in technology with the fastest accelerating single-seater cars. We are committed to helping Kiro become a leading force in the industry.
    Jeremy Tarica, Managing Director of Forest Road.

    This is a fantastic development for Formula E and for Kiro Race Co. It marks the entry of a sophisticated investor group with a strong track record in the sports and entertainment industry. This investment in the team and its ambitious new owners will help us continue to grow the Championship and make it more attractive to fans and partners around the world.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E.

  • Envision Racing confirm Palmowski & Powell

    Envision Racing have announced Alisha Palmowski & Alice Powell to join the team for the official ABB FIA Formula E Women’s test session in Madrid.

    Palmowski, 18, has excelled in junior categories during her fledgling career to date, winning the Ginetta Junior Scholarship in 2022 and clinching the Vice-Champion spot in the GB4 Championship this year – where she took home 11 podiums, three race wins and two pole positions during the year.

    Driving alongside Palmowski will be Alice Powell, who has been part of the Envision Racing team since 2021.
    Powell has completed a successful test for them in Berlin during Season 10, completing a huge number of laps to provide crucial data to the team.

    Powell, is the teams Test & Development driver since 2021/22 season. Stepping into the new Gen3 Evo machinery for the first time and Powell’s experience and expertise will provide important baseline information.

    I cannot wait to join Envision Racing for the all-women’s Formula E test this month in Madrid. The car will be both faster and much different to anything I’ve previously driven so it is a great opportunity for me to learn and will be an amazing experience. I cannot thank everyone at Envision Racing enough for the opportunity, and I am also looking forward to working alongside Alice who has some great experience with these cars that I can hopefully learn from.
    Alisha Palmowski on the news.

    I am very happy to be back in a Formula E car for the second time in 2024, after participating in the Berlin rookie test earlier this year. I’m looking forward to getting more laps in and helping the team as much as I can going forward into Season 11 and the GEN3 Evo era of the series. I am very grateful to the team for another chance to drive the car and the trust they continue to put in me.
    Alice Powell on being back with Envision.

    As a team we have never been shy of supporting talented women, and so we are very pleased to see the championship take this step forward in providing a platform for women racing drivers. We’re excited to see Alisha step into Formula E for the first time after a hugely successful season for her, and equally to see Alice back in the car, who is very experienced within our team and the sport. Alisha caught our attention with her strong performances this past season and we are excited to see what she can do in a Formula E car – with Alice alongside her to provide experience and insight, we are sure it will be a rewarding session for all involved.
    Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director & CTO.

  • Formula E moves pre-season test

    Formula E has cancelled its Valencia pre-season test in the light of the horrific flash flood in the region and will instead head to fellow Spanish circuit Jarama.

    At least 155 people have died in Valencia and its surrounding areas since the devastating floods hit parts of Spain on Wednesday, with that total expected to rise further.

    Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo has hosted Formula E’s pre-season tests since 2017 and this year was due to host the first public outing for the Gen3 Evo car design that will be used for the next two seasons.

    But the damage to some of the circuit’s facilities – notably its main access road – and consideration for the wider situation meant it soon become clear that holding the test there was impossible.

    Its place will instead be taken by the Jarama circuit, approximately 20 miles north of Madrid.
    Running at the former Formula 1 grand prix venue, which is now primarily used for testing and national series, will still take place across four days but commence a day later, running from November 5th to 8th.

    We have all been monitoring the tragic situation in Valencia, where flash floods have devastated the region and claimed many lives. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these terrible events and we at Formula E are looking at how we can practically support the region during this awful time. Following consultation with local authorities, the FIA and our colleagues at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, we have decided not to proceed with our pre-season test in Valencia, planned for 4-7 November. While it may have been possible to go ahead logistically, it is important not to create any distraction or use valuable resources that are much better served supporting the local community. We have a number of Formula E team members who have been working on the ground in Valencia over the past week, and we want to personally thank them for everything they’ve done, and continue to do, to support the area.  The pre-season test is an important moment in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar ahead of Season 11 starting in Sao Paulo on 6-7 December, as it allows us to check the new Gen3 Evo cars for safety, and also to establish that we can safely and effectively deploy new technologies. We have also planned for the first-ever women’s test to take place during this event. Therefore, we have taken the decision to secure an alternative location, and Circuit del Jarama in Madrid will host both the FIA Formula E Official Test and the Women’s Test next week, scheduled for Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November. The full event schedule will be confirmed in due course, as we navigate a number of logistical and operational challenges which will determine if it’s possible to move our test operations to Madrid within this timeframe. Our first thoughts are with the community of Valencia. The city has a special place in our hearts: it has been ever-present on our calendar since 2017 and we have recently moved our operations base there. It is like a second home for Formula E. We will support the community to recover from these tragic events in any way we can, and ensure that while our testing continues in Madrid, it is done with the utmost sensitivity.
    Formula E’s statement.

  • Ella Lloyd joins F1 Academy with McLaren

    Ella Lloyd will be embarking on her first full F1 Academy season next year, with the Welsh racer joining the McLaren Driver Development programme to represent the team next season with Rodin Motorsport.

    As part of her role in the programme, Lloyd will also compete in Formula E’s Women’s Test – for NEOM McLaren in November, as part of pre-season testing for the 2024/25 season.

    The 19 year old made her car racing debut back in 2022 in the Ginetta Junior championship, scoring points in 15 of 25 races that season.
    The next year, saw her progress to the Ginetta GT Championship, scoring 10 victories and a further eight podiums on her way to Vice Champion title in the Pro Class.

    This year, has seen Lloyd achieve the Female Driver Trophy several times in the Formula Winter Series. She also followed that up with a success rookie British F4 campaign in which she secured three second-place finishes, one third place and multiple points finishes to finish 11th in the Standings.

    Lloyd has already had her first taste of racing in F1 Academy, where she scored points twice as the Wild Card Entry for Round 5 in Singapore last month.

    I’m really excited to be joining the McLaren Driver Development programme as the team’s F1 ACADEMY driver in 2025. It’s an honour to drive for a team that has such a great racing history, and also a long track record for developing talent. With McLaren, I now have everything I need to keep developing and pushing the boundaries as a female in motorsport. Thank you to Zak Brown, Stephanie Carlin and the entire McLaren team for their faith in me. I can’t wait to get racing in papaya.
    Lloyd on the news.

    I am pleased to welcome Ella to the McLaren Driver Development programme ahead of her debut as our F1 ACADEMY driver for the 2025 season. Ella has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself in the series, performing brilliantly as the Wild Card entry in Singapore, so we’re excited to see what she can do with us. We look forward to supporting her development.
    Stephanie Carlin, Director of F1 Business Operations at McLaren.

  • Marti & Chambers to drive for Andretti

    Andretti Formula E has announced that Chloe Chambers and Nerea Marti will represent the team in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Women Test in Valencia.

    Making her Formula E debut in the first-ever Women’s Test hosted by an FIA World Championship, Chambers brings an extensive racing resume to the Indianapolis-based Andretti lineup that includes a win and three podiums with two rounds remaining in her first season of F1 Academy.

    Chambers started in karting at the age of eight, rising through the karting ranks over the next 10 years before moving into the Formula 4 United States Championship in 2021.
    The 2022 season saw her compete in W Series Championship before she went on to dominate the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, winning eight of 12 races and making history as the first woman to win a race and claim pole position in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship.

    Rounding out Andretti Formula E’s testing lineup, Marti will take her first Formula E laps on her hometown track in Valencia.
    The Spanish driver moved up through the competitive karting ranks on her family’s track before moving into the Spanish F4 Championship in 2019.

    The 2021 season saw Marti claim the title of highest-ranking rookie in the W Series Championship, finishing fourth overall and gaining an FIA Formula 3 test day as her prize.
    Currently competing, in her second F1 Academy season, the 22 year old has scored one win and nine podium and currently sits fifth in the standings.

    I’m thrilled to be joining the Andretti Formula E team in Valencia. It will be different for me, being my first experience in electric racing, but I’m excited to take on this new challenge and expand my horizons. The Andretti Formula E team has had great success in Formula E, and I’m glad to be learning from some of the best! As an American, it’s especially exciting to be working with such an iconic name in racing. Thank you to F1 Academy, A14 Management and Monoflo International for enabling this opportunity. I’ll be putting 100% into learning all I can during the test.
    Chambers on the news.

    Getting behind the wheel of a Formula E car is an incredible opportunity. Formula E represents the future of racing, and I’m going to soak up every moment and learn as much as I can from the experience. The Series is all about innovation and pushing boundaries, and as a female driver, it’s what I’ve been striving for throughout my career, so I’m thrilled to be part of it. It’s very special that the test is taking place in Valencia, my hometown. Circuit Ricardo Tormo is where I got my first taste of racing, so I have some very special memories there. I’m focused on making the most of every lap and showing the Andretti Formula E team what I can do. I feel humbled by Andretti’s rich history, passion and dedication across all the series they compete in, and I couldn’t have dreamed of wearing better colours. I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.
    Marti on the news.

    We are super excited to announce both Chloe and Nerea as the Andretti drivers for the all-women test in Valencia. As an organization, we have been leaders in promoting women in motorsport, fielding multiple drivers over the years across our varied programs, and being the only Formula E team to run a woman driver for a full season with Simona de Silvestro in Season 2. Both Chloe and Nerea have shown their pedigree in F1 Academy with regular visits to the podium, and we are eager to see how they get on in the Andretti Porsche 99X Electric Formula E car. I’m sure they will be following closely on the progress that Jake and Nico make throughout the week to learn as much as they can before they take to the track.
    Roger Griffifths, Team Principal.

  • Formula E dedicates pre-season test for women

    Formula E has announced a world-first for an FIA Championship in holding a dedicated test session for women racing drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The test will be taking place on Thursday 7th November at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.

    The first of its kind test in the all-electric championship provides elite women racing drivers the opportunity to driver the new for Season 11 Gen3 Evo car, which is capable 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds.

    The car will also be tested during the same week by the 11 world-class race teams and 22 drivers currently competing in the series.

    Each of the race teams in the championship will be required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, but is encouraged to field two, who will all drive in the current-season cars.

    With all the women on track at the same time, the session creates a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who wouldn’t get otherwise an opportunity to drive machinery at this level.

    The test aims to provide the women not only with a destination but also a pathway to develop their careers and skills using current technology at its full potential.

    While at the Valencia track, drivers will take part in multiple media opportunities, including press conferences, briefings, interviews and capturing content for broadcast and social media on behalf of Formula E and their respective teams.

    We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid. Unlike other series where women drivers have to use old or restricted machinery, they’ll be using the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car that accelerates 30% faster than an F1 car, just as our Championship drivers do. We also recognise that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress. As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, as well within Formula E including my Exec and Director teams, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem is representative of those that follow and support the sport.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO at Formula E.

  • Maloney completes Lola Yamaha ABT Line-Up

    Lola Yamaha ABT will enter its first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season with one of the grid’s most exciting driver pairings, having confirmed rookie Zane Maloney as the teammate of Lucas di Grassi.

    In combining the driver with the most races in championship history with the rookie confirmed, the team underscores its intent to shake up the status quo and drive the next generation of motorsport talent and technology.

    Born and raised in Barbados, Maloney’s blossoming career has already seen him win the British Formula 4 Championship, finish runner-up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship and was named FIA Rookie of the Year in 2022.

    The 20 year old is currently third in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, and is also a reserve driver for Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber.
    A reserve and development driver for the Andretti team since 2023, Maloney already has experience completing several tests.

    Maloney has already joined the team for testing in Varano, Italy and in the new car in Spain last week.

    The eleventh ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season kicks off in Sao Paulo on 7th December.
    In early November, all teams will gather in Valencia, Spain for the only official test sessions.

    We’re delighted to welcome Zane to the team for the upcoming Formula E season, completing our driver pairing as one of the most exciting on next season’s grid. Zane is a hugely talented young driver with an abundance of speed and potential and, alongside Lucas, we have an ideal combination of youth and experience. Zane has demonstrated his abilities in a variety of junior categories and proven himself as a race winner, and we’re looking forward to seeing him get behind the wheel in testing, and then at round one in São Paulo.
    Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman of Lola Cars.

    We are very much looking forward to having Zane as part of the team for Season 11, and he has already brought a breath of fresh air during our first days working together. Giving young talent a chance and supporting them has been a strong tradition at ABT for many decades and that’s why it was clear to us that we would also follow this path in Formula E.
    ABT CEO, Thomas Biermaier.

    I am delighted to be part of the Lola Yamaha ABT team and looking forward to this exciting challenge. Although I already know the championship well, this is a completely new chapter for me, so working with such an experienced team, and alongside such a successful driver, is the perfect next step. I’ve followed and admired Lucas’s battles over the past seasons, including when he became champion. I’m sure that I will learn a lot from him and together we will push both ourselves and the development of the car forward.
    Maloney on the news.

  • Envision stick with Buemi & Frijns

    Envision Racing are pleased to confirm an unchanged driver line-up for Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
    Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns will continue with the team for Season 11.

    After a campaign of highs and lows, both Buemi and Frijns ended Season 10 in extremely positive fashion – bringing home three podiums across the final four races.

    Buemi and Frijns are among the most experienced drivers in Formula E, having competed in 229 races in the championship, with 99 of those while driving for Envision.

    The team is one of the most successful in the sport, having accumulated more podium finishes (53) and points (1723) through 10 seasons than any other competitor.

    In the closing stages of Season 10, Frijns secured a double podium weekend in Portland, where he brought home two second place finishes.
    This was then followed by teammate Buemi clinching the final step of the podium in London.
    The team finished sixth in the overall Teams’ World Championship standings.

    It’s great to have continuity in our driver line-up as Sébastien and Robin lead us into Season 11. Despite Season 10 not being our strongest year, we are confident that the momentum we gained in the closing rounds can be taken into next season and put us back where we want to be.
    Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director & CTO of Envision Racing.

    As a team, we improved significantly towards the end of last season to get back to the front of the grid, and the results showed this. We will continue to push to ensure that we head to Sao Paulo with the same level of competitiveness.
    Buemi on the news.

    I started off Season 10 relatively strong, with a podium in Round 3, however it took some time to adjust to the new car and style of racing. We worked extremely hard to make that adjustment and by the end were fighting at the front again, so our focus now is on continuing that into next season.
    Frijns added.

  • Nato joins Rowland at Nissan

    Nissan will pair Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Following a fruitful partnership in the Gen2 era, Rowland enjoyed a strong Season 10 with the team. The British driver took two victories, including a home win in the final race of the year.
    In addition to two Julius Baer Pole Positions and five further podiums on his way to fourth in the standings.

    Not only this, Formula E race winner, Norman Nato will be returning to the Japanese squad, having previously raced in cherry blossom during Season 9 (2022/23).

    The French driver was a regular in the points, securing the team’s first podium finish under full Nissan ownership at the 2023 Rome E-Prix. Nato will be replacing Sacha Fenestraz.

    I’m excited to continue with Nissan Formula E Team after a very strong year. It’s been great to have some time off, I’ve been training and working with the team which has been positive. For next season we need to try and bring more consistency to all elements of our race weekends, whether that’s in qualifying or car development. Last year, we executed some races perfectly, so for this season we have to maintain that progress and improve the small bits we can to continue moving further up the order. I’ve known Norman for a few years, he’s very experienced and knows the team well, and I’m looking forward to working together. The GEN3 Evo car will be a challenge for everyone on the grid, so it’s a chance for us to maximize our performance and start the season on the front foot. I also want to give my best to Sacha, I enjoyed working with him during Season 10 and hope to see him back on the grid soon.
    Rowland on the news.

    I’m really happy to be back with the team. We ended Season 9 strongly together and I’m looking to pick up where we left off. We will be aiming to perform straight away, so the fact I know the car and the team will be helpful. Oli proved how quick he is last season, we’ve been battling on track since Formula Renault 2.0 but never been teammates! I’m sure we will get along well and hopefully we can share some podiums together. It will be interesting to see how the car has improved, and the goal is clear. We want to win races and championships. Finally, I wish Sacha all the best, he’s a top guy and it’s never easy to replace someone you previously partnered with. I’m sure we will be racing each other again very soon.
    Nato on the news.

    We’re excited for Season 11 after a very good performance in the last campaign. We’ve refreshed our driver line-up by welcoming back Norman, who will bring his wealth of experience and performance. Norman knows the team well and showed his talent when he was previously with us. His feedback and insight are valuable and he has a track record of developing cars, so we are delighted to see him return. Oli had a fantastic Season 10, and we’re confident he can continue at that level. We believe that Norman and Oli will form a strong pairing, both are team players and will do their best to help us improve throughout the upcoming year. At the same time and while it hasn’t been an easy decision, we have to say goodbye to Sacha. He has been a fundamental part of the establishment and development of Nissan Formula E Team, and we thank him for his hard work and his ever positive attitude. We’re proud to have grown together with him, and wish him all the best for his future career.
    Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal.

  • Porsche announces Season 11 drivers

    Porsche will again field our newest Champion Pascal Wehrlein alongside Season 6 title-winner Antonio Felix da Costa in Formula E Season 11.

    Season 10 was beyond memorable for the German giants, as Wehrlein steered the team to a maiden Formula E title in the London finale.
    Crowning a best season to date in electric motorsport’s top tier since the Stuggart marque joined the fold back in 2019/20.

    The team wound up second in the Teams’ running, just four points shy of winner Jaguar TCS Racing, and finished second to the Jaguar squad in the Manufacturers’ Trophy.

    Da Costa fought off mid-season speculation to tear to a storming run of four wins in five between Berlin and Portland to place him in title contention heading into London.

    The pair will get behind of Porsche’s take on the Gen3 Evo – the latest evolution of Formula E car set to hit the track in Season 11 with a maiden outing coming at the Valencia test in November.

  • Guenther to drive for DS PENSKE

    DS PENSKE have confirmed that Maximilian Guenther will drive for the team from Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The German driver joins DS PENSKE’s double champion Jean-Eric Vergne driving for the team through the 2024/25 campaign.

    Guenther first joined the team in Season 4, when team owner Jay Penske offered him a debut seat in the championship.

    Since then, the 27 year old has gone on to secure five wins and 10 podiums across 83 races since, representing the likes of BMW Andretti and Maserati along the way.

    Guenther’s teammate Vergne holds a number of records – including for most points scored in Formula E history, the Frenchman having been a part of 130 of 132 races since Season 1.

    The team sealed four podiums and third place in the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, improving two berths on Season 9’s result.

    I’m very happy to be joining DS PENSKE. A powerhouse in the championship and a project with strong vision. We share the same ambitions and are all driven to be at the top of Formula E. Representing DS Performance, a manufacturer which has won several championships already is a real privilege. Same for being teammate with a champion like Jean-Eric Vergne, it’s something I really look forward to. A very special element for me is to drive for Jay’s team again, he brought me into the championship when I was 20 years old. I’m proud to be part of the team and excited of what we will build together in the future.
    Guenther on the news.

    Having Max on the team feels right. His calm under the pressure and make bold moves on the track will be a huge asset to the team. We share a common goal to push the team to the top of the standings. With our combined skills and determination, I am looking forward to a thrilling season ahead!
    Vergne on Guenther joining the team.

    I am very excited to welcome Max back to DS PENSKE. His undeniable talent makes him a perfect fit for our ambitious objectives this season. His race craft is extraordinary, he combines a cool,  strategic mindset with a fierce determination on track. Competing alongside Jean-Eric Vergne, the talented driver with most front-row positions last season, we are more driven than ever to achieve our championship goals. PENSKE AUTOSPORT concluded Season 10 of Formula E with a solid third place in the Teams’ championship. The Team is eager to build on past successes and continue their pursuit of excellence in the series’.
    Penske on the news.

  • Barnard joins Bird at McLaren for Season 11

    NEOM McLaren has confirmed Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Barnard has been Reserve and Development driver at NEOM McLaren and had his first competitive experience behind the wheel of Formula E machinery for the team across the 2024 Monaco E-Prix and Berlin E-Prix, stepping in last-minute for the injured Sam Bird.

    Finishing those races in 14th, 10th and eight respectively, Barnard impressed – becoming the youngest points-scorer in Formula E history at the age of 19.

    Barnard entered single seater racing in 2020. On his way up the motorsport ladder, the Brit became 2022 ADAC Formula 4 runner-up as well as the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship runner-up.

    In 2023, during his debut season in FIA Formula 3, he took his maiden victory in the championship at Spa-Francorchamps.

    In 2024 Barnard shared duties in FIA Formula 2 with AIX Racing alongside his role as Reserve and Development Driver for NEOM McLaren.

    Following his first season with NEOM McLaren, Bird will be continuing with the team for Season 11.
    The 37 year old has competed in Formula E since Season 1 and is one of only five drivers to have done so.

    Bird is among the most successful drivers on the grid with 12 wins, 26 podiums and six Julius Baer Pole Positions to his name over the course of those 10 season.

    Bird secured the team’s first and only win to date in Formula E with last lap heroics at the 2024 Sao Paulo E-Prix one of the series’ most memorable.

    I am delighted to be racing for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team in Season 11. In Season 10, I was the team’s Reserve and Development Driver and during that time I learnt a lot, putting my new knowledge into practice in Monaco and Berlin. I am excited to race alongside Sam this season, and I am sure I will learn a lot from him. He is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, and I hope that together we can score plenty of points and collect some trophies for the team. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to continue the journey with the team as full-time Formula E driver, and I can’t wait to get started.
    Barnard on the news.

    I’m very happy to be staying with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team for Season 11. This team has become like family to me, and I believe that we can achieve even better things together in the upcoming season. We’ve done some good work in our first season together; now it’s time to build on that and create even better memories in my second year.
    Bird on sticking with McLaren.

  • Andretti signs Mueller for Season 11

    Nico Mueller will be making the switch to Andretti for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship campaign.

    Mueller joins ahead of Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship alongside confirmed teammate and Season 9 World Champion, Jake Dennis.

    The Swiss driver joins the team following Norman Nato’s exit piloting the Andretti Porsche 99X Electric machine in his fifth season of Formula E competition as the series enters its GEN3 Evo era.

    Mueller finished Season 10 strong with a streak of four top-six finishes to round out his fourth Formula E campaign and best finish in the Drivers’ World Championship standings.

    Outperforming the machinery underneath him on more than once occasion, with his former ABT CUPRA teammate and Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi scoring only four points to Mueller’s 52.

    In his 46 Formula E starts, the 32 year old has one podium finish (Valencia, Season 7) two fastest laps and has led 13 laps.
    In addition to his Formula E success dating back to his official rookie test in Marrakesh, Mueller has served as an official Audi factory driver, won the prestigious Nurburgring 24h and fought for the DTM title twice (2019, 2020) winning nine races and standing on the podium 24 times.

    Adding to the Swiss driver’s varied racing career, he has also competed in the World Endurance Championship, World Rallycross, GT Series and Stock Car racing.

    I’m very excited to join the Andretti Formula E Team. It’s a team that has seen success from the very beginning of the championship, particularly in the GEN3 era in their partnership with Porsche Motorsport. To work with Jake, a former World Champion is an honour and I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I’m going to give it my very best to contribute to the team’s success and hopefully aim for some podiums and my first Formula E win – that’s the target. I can’t wait to get going.
    Mueller on the news.

  • Nato and Andretti part ways

    Andretti has announced that Norman Nato will be leaving the team.
    Nato joined Andretti for Season 10, making the move from Nissan.

    The Frenchman secured a season-best result of third place his first and only podium for the American team on Formula E’s return to Shanghai in May.

    Nato finished the season in 15th in the Drivers’ World Championship on 47 points. Eight positions and 75 points lower than teammate Dennis managed.

    The team have indicated that they will make its 2024/25 line-up clear in the next few days, with Season 9 Champion Jake Dennis now set to be partnered by a fresh driver to the team.

    However, Andretti is a Porsche customer team, and it is rumoured that Mueller is expected to move to the manufacturer after testing with it earlier in the year.
    He subsequently left both ABT Cupra in Formula E, and vacated his Peugeot seat in the World Endurance Championship.

  • Lucas di Grassi to race with ABT Lola

    Season 3 champion Lucas di Grassi will continue his long association with the ABT team as it heads into Season 11 as ABT Lola.

    The Brazilian and the German team have extended their 10-year cooperation to enter a new era together and from next season.

    ABT CUPRA will form a team with Lola Cars, using a powertrain developed by the iconic British brand together with Yamaha Motor Company.

    Di Grassi has competed in 131 Formula E races, more than any other driver and is among the most successful – with an unparalleled 47 podiums alongside that Drivers’ title to his name.

    The Brazilian has turned the first wheel of the new era himself, in mid-June at the shakedown of the Lola Yamaha race car in the UK – the first outing for the new GEN3 Evo design with a newly-developed powertrain.

    After a one-year break, ABT returned to Formula E at the beginning of 2023 with CUPRA as its partner and has since started with a powertrain from Mahindra Racing.

    The new set-up will see ABT continue to leverage its extensive experience to run the operations of the race team, with specialist support from Lola as manufacturer.

    ABT Lola will decide in the coming weeks who will take the second cockpit alongside di Grassi, before all teams meet for the official test in Valencia, Spain.

    We are delighted to continue our journey in Formula E with Lucas. Not only is he a great ambassador for our team and the entire championship, but like all of us, he is eager and fully motivated to finally be successful again. We know that working with a new manufacturer brings many challenges. This makes it all the more important for us to have the most experienced driver at our side in Lucas, in addition to the permanent members of the team.
    Thomas Biermaier, ABT CEO.

    Having a driver with such experience, skill and dedication as Lucas is a huge boost as a new manufacturer entering the series. These attributes, combined with his existing relationship with ABT, make Lucas the ideal person to have at the wheel for our return to motorsport. His knowledge and feedback during testing have already proven invaluable and we look forward to hitting the track together in Season 11.
    Mark Preston, Lola Cars Motorsport Director.

    ABT is my family. I have experienced the best moments of my career there and have full confidence in the people who work hard every day to achieve success – so I am happy that we are also tackling the new challenges together. It’s a very exciting project with people who know what it takes to be successful in Formula E, alongside two renowned brands in Lola and Yamaha with a wealth of motorsport heritage and technical prowess. We have a few busy weeks ahead of us. Together we will do everything we can to be successful as soon as possible.
    Di Grassi on the news.

  • Vandoorne & Hughes join Maserati

    Maserati MSG Racing announces all-new driver line-up of Season 8 World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Jake Hughes.

    Vandoorne heads into a seventh season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, while Hughes sets about a third campaign – with Maserati earmarking him as one of the brightest talents on the grid since his and NEOM McLaren’s bow in Season 9 at the start of GEN3.

    Vandoorne has been a fixture at the sharp end of the Formula E grid since joining from McLaren’s Formula 1 team.
    He claimed the Drivers’ World Championship in Season 8 with Mercedes-EQ and the Belgian has three wins, 16 podiums and eight Julius Baer Pole Positions to his name.

    Hughes put together one of the strongest rookie campaigns in Formula E, with the British driver securing pole in his third race in the series.

    After serving as Maserati MSG Racing’s Reserve Driver in Season 7, when the team previously competed under the guise of Venturi, Hughes is a familiar face to the team and as such will make a natural return in Season 11.

    The drivers will make their first appearance with Maserati MSG Racing in Formula E’s pre-season test at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain in a critical week of preparation from 4th to 7th November.

    I’m very happy to be joining Maserati MSG Racing next season and I’m proud to be associated with such an iconic name within motorsport as Maserati. I’m excited to start working with the team – although I haven’t worked directly with them before, I know the team well, both from my time at DS PENSKE but also from my time with Mercedes when we shared a powertrain with Venturi. They are a great bunch of people, very skilled, very determined and I’m really looking forward to working with together moving forwards. Hopefully we’ll have a lot of success and fight for victories and championships together.
    Vandoorne on the news.

    I’m over the moon to be joining Maserati MSG Racing. The success that the team has had, as one of the founding teams in Formula E, speaks for itself. On a personal level, I have worked with the team previously so I know them well and I’m genuinely looking forward to going back. I know that the season has only just finished but I honestly can’t wait to get over to the HQ in Monaco and start working with the engineers, get on the simulator and really get cracking with our prep for Season 11. This marks the start of an exciting new chapter in my career, and I know that the best is yet to come.
    Hughes on the news.

  • NEOM McLaren announces Hughes departure

    NEOM McLaren has announced the departure of Jake Hughes.
    Hughes made his competitive debut in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in the 2023/24 campaign with the team.

    He went on to score 96 points, four Julius Baer Pole Positions and a second-placed podium finish at the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix.

    In his first Formula E race, the 2023 Mexico City E-Prix, Jake qualified third, finishing the race in a promising fifth. He then went on to secure the team’s first pole at only his third race weekend in Diriyah, before clinching a second at the 2023 Monaco E-Prix.

    In 2024, Hughes notched another pair of poles and achieved a career best P2 finish, his first podium in the championship.

    The team says Hughes has been crucial in its success for a long spell, going back as far as 2020, in which he started out as Reserve and Development driver for the Mercedes-EQ the team that laid the foundations of what is NEOM McLaren today.

    Leaving the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team will feel very strange for me in the coming weeks, based on the fact this team has been my home for the last four-and-a-half years. I have a lot of thanks to give to so many different people within the team for what they have given me, and how they have prepared me and allowed me to grow into the racing driver I am today. Everything I am in Formula E is down to this team, and for that I am extremely grateful. I wish the team all the best, and I have no doubt that we’ll have some good times racing on track against each other in the future.
    Hughes on leaving the team.

    Jake has made a significant contribution to this team over the years, both on and off the track, and we are incredibly grateful for his input and dedication throughout. During this time, he has flourished into a proven talent in Formula E; particular highlights being his four pole positions – of which one came in only his third ever event in Formula E – and his P2 finish in Shanghai this year. On a personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Jake. Alongside his natural talent as a driver, he is a consummate professional and yet has an easy sense of humour which has endeared him to all in the Formula E paddock.
    Ian James, Managing Director and Team Principal.

  • Daruvala & Guenther to depart Maserati

    Maximilian Guenther and Jehan Daruvala are to leave Maserati MSG Racing, the team confirmed.

    Guenther joined Maserati MSG Racing at the start of Formula E’s GEN3 era and made history by becoming the first driver since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1957 to win a World Championship single-seater race for the Trident.

    Alongside a further victory at the inaugural Tokyo E- earlier in 2024, the German represented the team on Formula E podium on six occasions, while also claiming two pole positions across 32 races.

    Daruvala who became the first Indian racing driver to compete in World Championship motorsport since 2012 in Season 10.
    He joined Maserati MSG Racing for Formula E’s most recent campaign and showed continual progression to secure two top 10 finishes in his time with the team.

    I’d like to thank Max and Jehan personally and on behalf of the Maserati Family for all their commitment and all the work they have done. Both made contributions to the team’s achievements and did their best in every race to put both of the Maserati Tipo Folgore in the best possible positions. Max brought us so much excitement, taking the Trident back to the podium several times, whereas Jehan – the only rookie on the track in Season 10 – did an amazing job with his growth and had no hesitation in facing leading drivers with determination and passion. We’re proud to have had Max and Jehan with us, to have worked together and to have shared so much that will stay with us forever as part of Maserati’s history in Formula E. I’d like to wish them both a great future in motorsports.
    Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse.

    On behalf of the team I would like to sincerely thank Max and Jehan for the work they have put in over the course of Season 10. Since joining the team in 2022, Max has played a critical role in our development and has been responsible for some of our biggest achievements in Formula E’s Gen3 era so far. Being a rookie in this championship is not easy however Jehan showed his speed over one lap right from the second round in Saudi Arabia. He was consistently quick in qualifying and towards the second half of the season he was regularly challenging for points. It has been a pleasure to watch Max and Jehan grow as part of our team, and we wish them nothing but the best for the future.
    Jose M Aznar, Team Principal & Managing Partner, Maserati MSG Racing.

  • Vandoorne and DS PENSKE part ways

    DS PENSKE has announced that Stoffel Vandoorne, the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Champion, will be parting ways with the team at the end of Season 10.

    The team signed Vandoorne alongside double champion, Jean-Eric Vergne for Season 9 and the start of the Gen3 era in what was at the time hailed as something of a super line-up, counting three titles between the pair.

    While he hasn’t added to his haul of three race victories over the last two years, he did finish on the podium in Monaco earlier this year.
    He rounded out the current campaign with a pair of ninth place finishes in London last week.

    Vandoorne’s next destination is currently unclear, with speculation linking him to a move to NEOM McLaren – which was previously the HWA and Mercedes squad which Vandoorne raced for in Season 5 to 8.

    The other Stellantis-affiliated team, Maserati is a more likely destination, as both drivers have left the team this season.

    Outside of Formula E, Vandoorne currently drives for another Stellantis brand, Puegeot, in the World Endurance Championship and serves as a test and reserve driver for Aston Martin’s Formula One team.

    We are truly grateful to Stoffel for his commitment and the outstanding performances he has delivered for DS PENSKE. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
    Jay Penske, Team Principal of DS PENSKE.

    My journey with DS PENSKE has been an incredible experience. I am thankful to the team for their unwavering support and look forward to new challenges ahead.
    Vandoorne on leaving the team.

  • ABT CUPRA confirm Mueller’s departure

    Nico Mueller won’t be racing for the ABT CUPRA from Gen3 Evo onwards, as the German team shared the news of his departure ahead of the London race weekend.

    Mueller, who currently sits 14th in the standings has been a part of the team since Season 9. He experienced a season best result of fourth in Misano earlier this year, narrowly missing out on the podium, and finished in fifth and sixth respectively in Portland last time out.

    Nico Mueller, has been a part of the ABT family for a long time, driving for them in DTM from 2016 until 2020, and was twice runner-up in the championship.

    He then joined ABT CUPRA for Season 9, as the all-electric championship embarked on its Gen3 era.

    Nico has decided to take on a new motorsport challenge and leave the team. It was our wish to keep Nico in the team and to be successful with him again. Now we have to accept his decision and wish him all the best for the future. On behalf of the whole team, I would like to thank Nico for his commitment and dedication. Of course we would all have liked to have seen more success, but even in these difficult times he has always led the way and shown strong performances. Nico remains part of the ABT family and is always welcome here.
    Thomas Biermaier, ABT CEO and Team Principal.

    This is going to be a very special weekend for me. On the one hand I’m looking forward to the location, the track and the fans. On the other hand, I feel melancholy and a lot of gratitude after two years in this team. It was an extremely challenging time, but it also brought us closer together. We’ve always pulled together and I’m sure this is what we will be doing in London for the last time. We want to give it our all with the whole team, enjoy the days and try to get two good results. London is a cool track – very tight, with indoor and outdoor sections and walls, as we know from Formula E. I will give everything to make the team proud again one more time.
    Mueller on the news.

  • RND 15 – London E-Prix

    FP1-

    The half hour session at the unique indoor-outdoor ExCeL Circuit in the afternoon heat in London saw all 22 drivers take to the track to prep ahead of the all-important finale double-header.

    Of the title contenders, Evans placed best with the fourth fastest time, just 0.065s shy of Vergne’s session benchmark. The Kiwi’s compatriot, teammate and standings leader Nick Cassidy wound up almost four-tenths back from the ultimate pace and 11th.

    Form man and reigning champion Jake Dennis – the man with by far the best record in London – find himself down in 15th with plenty to work through to get his Andretti up the grid come qualifying.

    FP2-

    Robin Frijns in his Envision Racing machine was at the top of the times for Free Practice 2, as the Jaguar TCS Racing powertrain looks strong.
    Fresh from his back-to-back podiums in Portland, Frijns will be hoping to make it three in a row.

    Brit, Oliver Rowland was second, with Sebastien Buemi in third. The Envision team claimed the Teams’ Championship at this race last year and look strong around this circuit.

    The session saw all the drivers pushing their cars to the limit, with drivers coming so close to the walls and riding over the kerbs.

    The last 10 minutes to the practice session saw Nissan’s Oliver Rowland, have a spin on entry into the ExCel building, but was able to get back on track in style.

    Qualifying-

    Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans achieved the Julius Baer Pole Position and closes the championship gap to his teammate Nick Cassidy to nine points.

    The championship fight has got even closer, as the Jaguar of Mitch Evans managed to achieve pole and the three additional points whilst his teammate Nick Cassidy, struggled and will line up in 17th on the grid.

    As well as a shocking result for Cassidy who leads the Drivers’ World Championship with 167 points and two races to go, there was also big results up and down the grid.

    TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa will be starting ninth, with Pascal Wehrlein in third at a circuit which can prove challenge to overtake on.

    The top 10 for qualifying are- Pole: Evans, P2: Buemi, P3: Wehrlein, P4: Nato, P5: Vergne, P6: Muller, P7: Rowland, P8: Frijns, P9: Da Costa and P10: Dennis.

    Round 15-

    Mitch Evans got off to a strong start with Buemi close behind, but it was Norman Nato who pushed his way into third after a cautious Pascal Wehrlein took things easy.

    However, there was drama further back as Jake Dennis squeezed out Robin Frijns which sent him into the wall and out of the race. The incident also picked up Sam Bird, and resulted in a Safety Car.

    Things got back underway by Lap 5, and saw the pack start to take their Attack Modes. One notable activation belonged to Nick Cassidy who missed one of the sensors and had to try again, losing crucial time.

    Oliver Rowland was getting his elbows out, fighting and trying to pass Jean-Eric Vergne but delivered a move up the inside.
    That wasn’t the only on-track battle for two-time champ JEV, as he also found himself getting tangled with Dennis and the two cars resting on top of each other for a brief moment.

    Fighting for position, ROwland ended up clashing with Antonio Felix da Costa at the final corner and causing the two to come to a stop. For Rowland he was able to get going again but it was game over for da Costa as he limped back to the pits.

    Buemi passed Evans for the lead on lap 10 in a lovely tidy move up the start-finish straight. Meanwhile, Dennis was out causing more trouble as he banged wheels with championship leader Cassidy.

    Cassidy was also smacked into the wall as he fought Stoffel Vandoorne, but was able to continue. He also complained of his beacons not working and missed Attack Mode again when he tried to take the mandatory power boost.

    Evans complained of energy issues, and was eventually passed by Maximilian Guenther for second place, yet disaster struck when his car suffered a problem and saw him drop down the order and eventually stop on track in the final stages of the race.

    Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz added to the accident damage as they came together in the last moments of the race.
    But Pascal Wehrlein kept his cool up in front to take his third victory of the season, with Evans behind in second and Sebastien Buemi in third.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Wehrlein, P2: Evans, P3: Buemi, P4: de Vries, P5: Mortara, P6: Muller, P7: Cassidy, P8: Bird, P9: Vandoorne and P10: Nato.

  • Liberty Global acquire Formula E Stake

    Formula E has announced that Liberty Global Ltd is to acquire shares held by Warner Bros. Discovery in the all-electric racing series.

    The acquisition of shares held by Warner Bros. Discovery will, on completion, bring Liberty Global’s total share of ownership in Formula E to 65% and mean that Liberty Global will take a controlling interest in the world’s fastest growing motorsport.

    Formula E is the only FIA sanctioned all-electric world motor racing championship, the number one-rated ESG sport on the planet and the first net zero carbon sport from inception.

    In its 10th season of all-electric racing, Formula E boasts one of the best and most diverse calendars in world sport, with 16 races in some of the world’s most iconic city locations across four continents.

    Now with almost 400 million fans around the world, 11 teams, 22 drivers on the grid, Formula E is a destination for the best motorsport talent on the planet, including racing teams Jaguar TCS Racing, Nissan, TAG Heuer Porsche and NEOM McLaren.

    At the recent Monaco E-Prix, Formula E revealed its new car for Season 11, the Gen3 Evo, capable of accelerating to 60mph in 1.82 seconds, around 30% faster than a current Formula 1 car, and quicker than any other FIA sanctioned single-seater.

    First of all I’d like to offer my thanks to Warner Bros. Discovery for the support and guidance they’ve provided Formula E over the past nine years. Liberty Global have a proven track record of building and growing businesses and their investment in us comes at the perfect time as we plan for a period of exponential growth. Having personally known and worked alongside the Liberty leadership team for over a decade, I’m thrilled to be able to further benefit from their expertise and their resources. This is a powerful vindication of the huge potential of our sport.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO Formula E.

    We’re excited to take a controlling interest in Formula E, a business we first invested in nearly 10 years ago. Formula E has a massive potential for further growth while integrating the most advanced sustainability standards in sports. The investment continues our approach of disciplined capital rotation across our Ventures portfolio and our strategy of making long-term investments in highly attractive businesses.

    Mike Fries, CEO Liberty Global.

  • FIA confirm Formula E Manufacturers’ Title

    The all-electric championship’s governing body is set to introduce an official Manufacturers’ title from the Gen3 Evo era.

    There will be even more to fight for next year, as the FIA is creating the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title for Manufacturers.

    Formula E boasts one of the most impressive and competitive manufacturer line-ups in motorsport and will be home to seven manufacturers from Season 11, including Electric Racing Technologies, Jaguar, Mahindra Racing, Nissan, Porsche, Stellantis and new addition Lola Cars. Between them, they will be powering 11 teams across the grid.

    The scoring for this trophy mirrors that of the Teams’ Championship with points awarded based on the performance of each manufacturer’s two highest-scoring cars in every race.

    So, first place will be awarded 25 points, second place gets 18 points and third gets 15 points, etc. Points for the Julius Baer Pole Position and Fastest Lap are also factored into the totals.

    Formula E had introduced the Manufacturer’s Trophy for Season 10, to celebrate the leading manufacturers in the championship.
    However in a recent World Motorsport Council meeting, it was confirmed that this will be recognised as an official FIA trophy.

    In the WMSC meeting, it was also shared that the Technical Regulations have been updated to allow for the use of four-wheel drive on the Gen3 Evo car in specific scenarios such as qualifying duels, race start and Attack Mode from the 2024 -2025 season onwards.

    I’m thrilled to bring another layer of competition and rivalry to our unique sport, where even more is on the line for the teams and manufacturers. For the first time in our series’ history, manufacturers will be able to compete for the coveted Manufacturers’ Title, where their best performing cars will contribute to a season-long leaderboard. This will enable the best, more efficient and fastest manufacturers to showcase their performance not just on the track, but to the public and consumers of their EVs all around the world.
    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer.

  • Season 11 Calendar Confirmed

    Formula E has announced its provisional calendar for Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with the largest number of races and locations set for a season, following validation of the FIA World Motorsport Council.

    Formula E will complete a 17 race season for the first time in its history spanning 17 iconic venues as it continues to pioneer all-electric racing.

    RoundLocationDate
    Pre-Season TestValenica, SpainNovember 4th-7th
    1Sao Paulo, BrazilDecember 7th
    2Mexico City, MexicoJanuary 11th
    3Diriyah, Saudi ArabiaFebruary 14th
    4Diriyah, Saudi ArabiaFebruary 15th
    5TBCMarch 8th
    6Miami, USAApril 12th
    7MonacoMay 3rd
    8MonacoMay 4th
    9Tokyo, JapanMay 17th
    10Tokyo, JapanMay 18th
    11Shanghai, ChinaMay 31st
    12Shanghai, ChinaJune 1st
    13Jakarta, IndonesiaJune 21st
    14Berlin, GermanyJuly 12th
    15Berlin, GermanyJuly 13th
    16London, UKJuly 26th
    17London, UKJuly 27th

    New race locations in Miami and Diriyah; a double header of separate races in Monaco – a first for the principality; a double header of races in Tokyo; and the return of Jakarta.

    The Season 11 campaign will begin in Sao Paulo on the 7th December 2024, with pre-season testing on the 4th-7th November 2024 in Valencia.
    It will be the first time all-new GEN3 Evo race car will be put through its paces and tested in public, capable of 0-60mph in just 1.82s – 36% faster than the current Gen3.

    A new venue in Diriyah will host the first double header of the season on 14th-15th February, while the series returns to Miami for the first time since Season 1 in an all-new location on 12th April 2025.
    The Homestead-Miami Speedway venue draws on its heritage and success in hosting thrilling NASCAR and IndyCar races for decades.

    One location has been included as TBC while final discussions with a new venue take place, ahead of the confirmed calendar announcement due in the autumn following the FIA’s World Motorsport Council Meeting.

    For Season 11 we’re taking electric racing to the next level and doing things never been done before in motorsport. Our world-leading GEN3 EVO will debut in front of hundreds of millions of fans around the globe, while adding two brand new locations and combinations of double-headers to grow our sport further. The new and improved calendar offers a perfect blend of circuits for drivers to push their upgraded cars to the limit, while staying true to our street racing DNA and the on-track action it produces.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E.

    We’re thrilled to offer a calendar with some fresh new highlights while building on our legacy locations. Returning to Miami gives us a home in one of the US’s most iconic and sports-mad cities, while securing a double-header in Monaco is a dream come true. We can’t wait to build on the success of Tokyo and deliver a double-header, while returning to Jakarta and entertaining our huge Indonesian fanbase too. With 17 races across the season and our most advanced race car debuting on track, we’re offering our fans cutting-edge sport we could only have hoped for when founding the championship just over 10 years ago.
    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E.

    The 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar features a range of circuits that will truly showcase the qualities of the brand new GEN3 EVO car, set to be introduced next season. I’m glad that Formula E capitalizes on the success of the Tokyo and Shanghai races whilst also returning to some of its iconic venues and retaining a good amount of street circuits, which is in its core DNA. I’m also hopeful that this new season will again play host to some fascinating action on track.
    Marek Nawarecki, Director, FIA Circuit Sport Department.

  • Lola commits to GEN4

    Lola Cars is set to compete in the GEN4 era for Formula E, extending its commitment until 2030.

    Following the announcement of its highly anticipated return to competitive motorsport, Lola Cars revealed that its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will also extend into the Gen4 era.

    The iconic, globally renowned motorsport brand, which has more than 500 championship wins, will join as a manufacturer from next season for the new GEN3 Evo era.
    The latest commitment to GEN4 will take their participation in the championship through to at least 2030, across six seasons.

    Lola’s commitment to Formula E is the first of many projects to come, as the iconic British company re-establishes itself as an industry leader in sustainable engineering and motorsport.
    With their focus on electrification, hydrogen and sustainable fuels, its commitment to Formula E will act as a stepping stone to further innovate in these key areas.

    Alongside Lola, three other major manufacturers – Nissan, Porsche and Jaguar – have also committed to the Gen4 era.
    Their participation promises electric racing fans even more excitement and competitive racing for years to come as the championship continues to grow and expand globally.

    Formula E’s next generation GEN4 technology will be introduced in Season 13 (2026/27) and includes significant advancements in efficiency, performance and safety.
    Aligned with Lola’s goals to further develop sustainable mobility technology, advanced features like all-wheel drive and increased efficiency will provide a new technical challenge for the British manufacturer on an already competitive grid that includes some of the industry’s leading OEMs and teams.

    While specific technical details for the Gen4 era are yet to be revealed by the FIA and Formula E, it is confirmed that the cars will feature 600kW of power, up from Gen3’s 350kW and 700kW regenerative braking, compared to the current 600 kW a significant increase.

    With their historic return to top-tier motorsport for Season 11 next year, we’re delighted that Lola Cars will also be committing to the GEN4 era – promising their presence will be on the Formula E grid until at least 2030. Their trust in our series for their latest venture into electrification and innovation is testament to our ability to attract the biggest names in motorsport, as well as our joint ambition to continue to grow this championship. It’s a huge privilege for us, and we can’t wait to see what they can do next year when the famous Lola marque hits the Formula E track for the first time.
    Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer Formula E.

    We are excited to be confirming our commitment to GEN4. Formula E is an ideal platform for powertrain and software development that we can use for broader motorsport and automotive applications. We feel the opportunity for innovation in this series will only increase as the performance of the cars and technology develops, giving greater scope to develop innovative technologies across global motorsport and in the broader zero emissions transportation space.
    Mark Preston, Motorsport Director Lola Cars Ltd.

    We are delighted to confirm Lola Cars as Formula E’s fourth committed manufacturer for GEN4. It was only recently that this famous brand announced its entry to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship next season, so to now similarly sign up for the following era is testament to the belief that Lola has in the series’ technical roadmap. Lola is a name synonymous with success in the sport and we are excited to see what they can now achieve in the pinnacle of electric single-seater racing.
    Marek Nawaercki, FIA Senior Circuit Sport Director.

  • Porsche commits to Gen4

    Porsche has committed to Formula E until at least 2030.
    Formula E has announced that Porsche has committed at least an additional four years to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Ahead of the 2024 Shanghai E-Prix, Porsche AG and Porsche Motorsport alongside Formula E and the FIA have confirmed Porsche’s registration to continue to be a manufacturer in the World Championship from Seasons 13 to 16, committing their involvement until at least 2030.

    This decision ensures that the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer will be on the grid when the next generation of vehicles, known as Gen4, debuts in the all electric racing series.
    With features like all-wheel drive that can be activated at certain points in the race, the new generation presents an additional technical challenge for the teams.

    Gen4 will be introduced in Season 13 (2026/2027) providing manufacturers with greater scope for development and offering valuable insights for their series production.

    This announcement aligns with the long-term goals of Formula E, the FIA, and Porsche for electrification and innovation in the automotive industry, both on and off the track.
    The landmark agreement highlights a sustained partnership focused on advancing electric racing technology, showcasing the dedication of all three organisations in pushing the boundaries of electric mobility and sustainability worldwide.

    Furthermore, it solidifies Porsche’s position as one of the pioneering Formula E manufacturers, ready to embrace the championship’s exciting Gen4 phase, ahead of its official debut.

  • RND 12 – Shanghai E-Prix

    FP3-

    Half a second split the top 17 runners as Nick Cassidy topped the times for Jaguar TCS Racing in Free Practice 3 ahead of the Shanghai E-Prix Round 12.

    A warm, steamy morning saw 27 degree air temperatures early on in Shanghai, and times matching free practice 2’s.

    Cassidy ran to a 1m13.500s late on and said he’d found something in himself to get there, while praising the team’s work over the weekend so far.

    Dan Ticktum, on home soil for ERT followed just 0.089s back with Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa rounding in third.

    Qualifying-

    NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes achieved his second Julius Baer Pole Position of the season around the Shanghai International Circuit.

    In a very intense qualifying battle, NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes managed to beat DS PENSKE’s Stoffel Vandoorne by just 0.001s!

    The insane margin between the two in the final of the duels ties the record set by Lucas di Grassi in Berlin back in 2017.
    And it’s the second time we’ve seen a pole decided by such a small gap this season, with Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche putting it on pole by only 0.002s in Sao Paulo.

    Several of the big names were knocked out early on including reigning world champion, Jake Dennis who will start 16th. Yesterday’s pole sitter Jean-Eric Vergne couldn’t replicate his success a second consecutive day and will line up ninth.

    Mahindra’s Nyck de Vries managed his best qualifying performance of the year to start fourth after making his first Duels appearance of the year.

    The full top 10 are- Pole: Hughes, P2: Vandoorne, P3: Da Costa, P4: De Vries, P5: Cassidy, P6: Evans, P7: Nato, P8: Rowland, P9: Vergne and P10: Guenther.

    Round 12-

    A good start from Vandoorne saw the DS driver beat Hughes to Turn 1 with da Costa in tow. The Portuguese driver took Hughes’ second spot at Turn 10 a lap later, aiming to drag himself up to leader Vandoorne in the slipstream on lap 2.

    Hughes, Nato, de Vries and Cassidy – third to seventh – all jumped for Attack Mode on lap 3, though could stick with the lead pair with the race pace as it was early on.

    The Jaguars running sixth and seventh, Evans from Cassidy once again looked to play the team game, though the latter exclaimed over team radio at his unhappiness at the change of tactics for round 12.

    Norman Nato led Vandoorne, da Costa, Hughes, de Vries, Cassidy, Evans, Guenther, Bird and Vergne – with da Costa a percent to the good on energy on those around him.
    Sure enough, the Portuguese’ progress started in earnest as he caught Vandoorne unawares with a dive around the outside into the final chicane complex to set about leader Nato.

    On lap 9, da Costa jumped to the front, beating Nato to Turn 1’s apex before ceding P1 again to take his first Attack mode boost – a contrasting strategy for the Porsche driver.

    Drama on lap 12, saw title contender Pascal Wehrlein forced into pitting to have his left-rear tyre replaced, punctured following contact with NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird.

    Da Costa looked to be the man to beat given the energy he had in-hand on the rest 0 some three percent of usable energy to the good on the leaders, enabling him to jump to the front again on lap 16 and looked to dictate.

    Hughes in third got the call to use more energy to move forward and set about Nato in second and da Costa in first on lap 18.
    A lap later, Cassidy tried to make a move on Hughes into Turn 1 and clipped his front wing in the process.
    Then at Turn 6, Hughes then it out around the outside of Nato to make it by the Frenchman for P2.

    The battling in-behind da Costa was playing into the Porsche driver’s hands, despite being the car punching through the air first.
    From lap 16 to the end, da Costa had the energy, pace and temperature margin to hold fast and dictate to the end, despite severe pressure from podium debutant Hughes.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Da Costa, P2: Hughes, P3: Nato, P4: Cassidy, P5: Evans, P6: Vandoorne, P7: Vergne, P8: Gunther, P9: Frijns and P10: Rowland.

  • RND 11 – Shanghai E-Prix

    FP1-

    Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans was the quickest person on track during the first free practice session in Shanghai, as the grid was separated by just over half a second.

    The Jaguar team looked strong throughout the session, which was disrupted by a technical problem for several cars.

    Just behind Evans, was the Andretti of Norman Nato, with his championship winning teammate Jake Dennis down in 14th. DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne found himself rounding out the top three in third.

    No sooner we had the 30 minute session got going it was brought under red flag conditions after several cars stopped on track. Both the Porsche and ERT’s as well as Nyck de Vries all had to be recovered from the Shanghai circuit for the technical problem.

    FP2-

    Andretti’s Norman Nato and DS PENSKE’s Jean-Eric Vergne both set an identical time to top the running in Free Practice 2 ahead of the Shanghai E-Prix Round 11.

    Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein’s second in the standings and just 0.013s back in third.

    The fast sweeping corners in Shanghai made things difficult for the drivers, with plenty of correction on the steering wheel to keep things in order.
    Engineers will be busy getting the setup right for their drivers, and making sure all the simulator work tallies with how things felt for real on track.

    Qualifying-

    DS PENSKE’s Jean-Eric Vergne will be starting the inaugural Shanghai E-Prix from the front of the grid as he secured the Julius Baer Pole Position in China.

    The close qualifying battle saw all the drivers fight their was around the popular Shanghai International Circuit to sort the starting grid for the race.

    Going up against Oliver Rowland in the Nissan, this pole position now sees Vergne equal the Formula E record for the most pole positions – 16 – which ties him with Sebastien Buemi.

    The full top 10 are- Pole: Vergne, P2: Rowland, P3: Evans, P4: Wehrlein, P5: Hughes, P6: Da Costa, P7: Nato, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Frijns and P10: Cassidy.

    Round 11-

    Polesitter Vergne launched cleanly and into Turn 1 while Rowland bogged down from second passed immediately by Wehrlein and Evans.

    Wehrlein was the first driver to take his first mandatory Attack Mode power boost – only he and Rowland jumping for it of the top 10 runners on lap 3.
    Robin Frijns briefly found himself in P1, before he took an initial two-minute Attack Mode boost, handing the lead back to Wehrlein.

    The Porsche’s teamwork continued as da Costa hit the front at the start of lap 5, before taking his attack mode activation, and dropping behind teammate Wehrlein.

    Jaguar’s Evans fired himself into the top three on lap 7, splitting the Porsches with a move through Turn 1 and a lap later, the Kiwi then took the lead.

    The top six looked the place to be with the pack jostling to hit that front quarter of the field, steering clear of the mid-pack melee and positioning themselves for a potential podium push.

    Evans led once again on lap 13, with the Porsches and Vergne still in that top four biding their time and waiting for their moment.
    The top 10 runners at the half-way stage had all used boosts, except reigning champion Dennis.

    Berlin winner, Cassidy found himself in the top six and two percent of usable energy to the good.
    The Porsche pair, Wehrlein from da Costa, swept back to the lead on lap 16, by Evans – the Jaguar driver their closest company, though absolutely nothing split the field.

    However, on lap 19, Evans had a percent of energy in-hand and managed to slice by da Costa through Sector 1, while the sister Jaguar TCS Racing of Cassidy had two percent energy over the leaders.

    Wehrlein outbraked himself into the hairpin, allowing Evans to pounce and bolt into the lead, while Dennis finally went for Attack mode and made it into third.

    Wehrlein had it all on to hold P1, with all of the defensive moves in the book on show but into Turn 1 of the final lap, Evans broke the German’s resistance right around the outside of Turn 1.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Evans, P2: Wehrlein, P3: Cassidy, P4: Rowland, P5: Dennis, P6: Vergne, P7: De Vries, P8: Buemi, P9: Vandoorne and P10: Di Grassi.

  • Sam Bird returns for Shanghai E-Prix

    NEOM McLaren have confirmed the return of Sam Bird, following his absence in Berlin due to injury.

    Bird was found to have broken his hand after an incident in Free Practice 1 at the 2024 Monaco E-Prix which saw the Brit lock up and hit the wall in the run-off area at Turn 1, Sainte Devote.

    McLaren confirmed the injury in a statement after the session, once Bird had been examined and sent to hospital for further checks.

    The Brit then went on to have a successful procedure to rectify the injury to the same hand he’d injured back in July 2022 during the London E-Prix.

    He was on-site in both Monaco and Berlin to support and advise Barnard who had replaced Sam in both races, with the youngster calling out the positive impact Bird had on his Formula E debut weekends.

    Barnard went on to score points in Berlin finishing 10th and eighth to set another record as the youngest points-scorer in Formula E.
    The Brit is continuing in his role as the team’s Reserve and Development Driver, dovetailing that work with an ongoing FIA Formula 2 campaign.

  • Andretti & Porsche partnership to continue

    Andretti has announced that the team will be extending its partnership with Porsche Motorsport through Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The extended collaboration will see Andretti continue to use the Porsche 99X Electric and underscores the outfit’s commitment to leveraging Porsche’s renowned expertise and technology for future success in the all-electric racing series.

    Since joining forces at the start of Season 9, the Porsche 99X has yielded a Drivers’ World Championship, three race wins, 15 podium finishes, five fastest laps, 112 laps led and a total of 365 points in Andretti colours.

    The Porsche-powered teams of TAG Heuer Porche and Andretti has also yielded 209 points jointly scored in the newly-established Manufacturers trophy, which the German manufacturer currently leads.

    The relationship between Andretti and Porsche Motorsport precedes the announcement of then GEN3 agreement.
    The partnership dates back to 1983, when Mario and Michael Andretti debuted at Le Mans in a Porsche 956, marking the beginning of shared victories including podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    It’s an exciting time to be a part of Formula E and we feel confident in our position in the series, which is due in large part to our partnership with Porsche. From day one our goal has been to win races and championships, and Porsche has helped us achieve both since joining forces in Season 9. With all the success we’ve shared with the GEN3 car, I can’t wait to see what we can do together in the GEN3 Evo era.
    Michael Andretti, Chairman and CEO of Andretti Global.

    We are very pleased to announce the extension of the Andretti and Porsche agreement to work together for the next two seasons. There was never any doubt in our mind about who we’d want to be working with. We have had a very special relationship with Porsche Motorsport, both on and off the track, and we have seen an awful lot of success together. Hopefully, we can share more success in the future.
    Roger Griffiths, Andretti Team Principal.

    We are obviously very pleased about the continuation of our partnership. he Andretti name is one of the most renowned in global motorsports, so the contract extension is of particular importance to us. Andretti and the Porsche factory team work together in many areas in Formula E. We drive each other to peak performances. The standings at the halfway mark are proof for this: both teams find themselves in the top three, and so do two of the four drivers. Plus, together we are leading the Manufacturer’s Trophy for Porsche.
    Thomas Laudenback, Vice President, Porsche Motorsport.

    We have enjoyed working with the Andretti team since we partnered up for the GEN3 era, and we are more than happy to continue to do so for GEN3 Evo. It’s also thanks to Andretti that the Porsche 99X Electric has had great results over the last one and half seasons, including Jake Dennis’ World Championship win. The exchange between the two teams contributes to the car’s performance, and that’s exactly what we’re all looking for. To enter GEN3 Evo in a well-working partnership makes me very optimistic for Seasons 11 and 12.
    Florian Modlinger, Director of Porsche Factory Motorsport.