Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula E

  • RND 7 – Misano E-Prix

    FP3-

    Despite having Round 6 already and collecting lots of data, practice makes perfect as the grid headed back out for another session.

    All drivers got lap times in, but Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries slowed whilst he was on the track, he managed to make his way back to the garage and got out later on in the session to finish ninth.

    ABT CUPRA’s Nico Mueller, topped the timesheets for a while in the middle of the 30 minute session, with the team looking to get more points on the board this weekend.

    However, it was Robin Frijns who managed to go quickest. The Envision driver crossed the finish line in last and 18th Saturday, but moved up to 17th after post-race sanctions were applied.

    Qualifying-

    NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes achieved the third Julius Baer Pole Position of his Formula E career, as he took on two-time champion Jean-Eric Vergne in the final of the qualifying Duels.

    It’s a great result for Hughes, especially given he was demoted to the back of the grid for not having his car’s fire extinguisher armed during the session.

    During the final Hughes had the advantage in sector one, but Vergne claimed it back in the second sector. However the Brit, ended up two-tenths ahead at the chequered flag.

    Things went from bad to worse for Antonio Felix da Costa, as he had his lap time deleted in the final stages of the group in 11th. Misano not quite going his way after the disqualification.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Hughes, P2: Vergne, P3: Wehrlein, P4: Mueller, P5: Bird, P6: Vandoorne, P7: Frijns, P8: Cassidy, P9: Dennis and P10: Rowland.

    Round 7-

    Pole sitter Hughes led cleanly away with Vergne and Wehrlein plus the rest of the pack following close behind, with the top three as they’d left the gird at the end of Lap 1.

    Drivers jostled to find space and clean air over the early laps – desperately trying to avoid the pinch points at Turn 8 & 9 and fall foul of contact.
    On Lap 4, Hughes and Vergne were the first to jump for Attack Mode. From there, Hughes ceded the race lead to the DS Driver, having led until that point while Wehrlein and Cassidy then jumped for Attack Mode and occupied P1 and P2 respectively at the end of Lap 5.

    ABT CUPRA’s Nico Mueller was next to lead, with the top 10 pretty much level on usable energy remaining on Lap 7, while Robin Frijns caught his wing in contact, sending him straight on and into gravel, requiring the Safety Car to be deployed for his recovery.
    On lap 9, the race went green once again with Mueller leading Wehrlein and Cassidy away, while most of the pack leapt for Attack Mode activations.

    On Lap 11, thing went from bad to worse again for Antonio Felix da Costa after as he got contact at Turn 1 which required his front wing to be replaced which then pushed him down the order.

    Mueller hit the front again on lap 13, with Wherlein behind, while Rowland picked his moment to push – taking third from Wehrlein before moving into the race lead, as Mueller was shuffled first ot third by the Nissan then reigning champion Jake Dennis.

    Wehrlein looked to be in the box seat with 10 laps to go – the Porsche driver with a massive 2% usable energy in hand on those around him.
    On lap 18, the German driver leapt to the front of the field with enough in-hand to punch his way through the air out front to the finish.

    Rowland took the lead through Sector 1 on Lap 20, looking to gain track position with five tours to go. The German’s engineer was over the radio to his driver to make a move for P1 with four laps to run with the lead pair pulling two seconds on third-placed Dennis.

    Wehrlein seemed powerless, though with his battery derating – overheating – heading into the final lap. Drama though saw Wehrlein swoop by the Nissan as Rowland slowed to a crawl, running out of usable energy long before the flag.
    Dennis followed him home with Cassidy pipping Mueller on the line for third position – heartbreakingly close to silverware for the ABT CUPRA squad.

    The full top 10 are – P1: Wehrlein, P2: Dennis, P3: Cassidy, P4: Mueller, P5: Fenestraz, P6: Sette Camara, P7: Vergne, P8: Hughes, P9: Daruvala and P10: Bird.

  • RND 6 – Misano E-Prix

    FP1-

    The DS PENSKE duo of Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne dominated the timesheets in first and second positions during the championship’s first visit to Misano.

    After lending out their cars for the Rookie Free Practice earlier in the afternoon our Season 10 grid made their way out onto the Misano circuit for their first in-car experience of the weekend.

    The session was filled with drivers exploring the limits, as they prepare for the double-header of Round 6 and 7.
    But there was troubles down at Mahindra Racing which saw home hero, Edoardo Mortara unable to set a single lap. With Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther facing problems during the first practice aswell.

    FP2-

    DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne made it two for two, topping the second Free Practice session of the weekend in Misano. The two-time Formula E Champion went quicker than his time in FP1, setting a benchmark of 1:17.482.

    NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes finished just 0.020s behind Vergne to claim second, with Sebastien Buemi in third.

    The session was impacted by a red flag for the ERT of Sergio Sette Camara who came to a stop on track. Not only this, it ended with a big incident for championship contender Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing.
    Cassidy ran off the track, through a gravel trap and ended his session in a tyre barrier to avoid the NEOM McLaren of Sam Bird.

    Track limits have been a popular topic of discussion this weekend, with 24 lap times being deleted over yesterday’s first free practice. One driver who appears to be finding it tough is Reigning World Champion Jake Dennis, the Andretti driver had eight track limit violations yesterday, and things didn’t look better this morning.

    Qualifying-

    Jean-Eric Vergne continued his strong run of form, as he topped another session in Misano. Joining JEV in the Duels was the TAG Heuer Porsche Pascal Wehrlein who ended the session second, with Oliver Rowland and Maximilian Guenther being the fastest four in the group.

    In Group B, with NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes going quickest of 11 drivers. Hughes has experience racing round Misano in junior categories, and was 0.163s ahead of Mitch Evans in second.
    Hughes’ teammate Sam Bird also flew into the Duels in third and ABT CUPRA’s Nico Mueller making it to the Duels, a third consecutive appearance.

    First up in the quarters was Nissan’s Oliver Rowland and Tag Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein. Rowland has taken pole on both occasions he has reached the Duels stage this year. But it was Wehrlein who managed to finish ahead, with Rowland making a few small mistakes on his way to missing out on the Semi’s.
    Next it was Vergne and Guenther, with JEV continuing his streak of topping every session of the weekend, which continued as Guenther made an error on his lap.

    But it was Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans who scored pole, which is his seventh Julius Baer Pole Position, in which he took on the DS PENSKE of Jean-Eric Vergne in an intense finale.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Evans, P2: Vergne, P3: Wehrlein, P4: Muller, P5: Rowland, P6: Bird, P7: Guenther, P8: Cassidy, P9: Frijns and P10: Buemi.

    Round 6-

    Antonio Felix da Costa qualified 13th and timed his push to perfection to take the race lead for the definitive time with three laps to go, from form man Oliver Rowland.
    From there, he was able to hold off the advances of Rowland to the chequered flag while Reigning Champion Jake Dennis clambered from a lowly 17th on the grid to complete the podium.

    As early as Lap 5, da Costa had made his way through the tightest of pack – with all 22 cars split by less than five seconds for much of the encounter – to the podium positions, trailing teammate Wehrlein on Lap 5.

    At a circuit like Misano, energy was always going to be on the drivers’ and engineers’ minds with cars starting the encounter with between 60 and 70% of the usable energy needed to finish the race – the rest recovered by regenerative braking.

    The concertinaing field always looked like it would catch driver out, as five wide through Turn 1 proving too much to handle with an early leader in Sam Bird, Nick Cassidy and Wehrlein among those suffering damage – race ending damage for the former pair.

    With eight laps remaining, Da Costa inherited the lead again but Rowland wouldn’t back off – as the Nissan driver jumped the Porsche on lap 23 for P1.
    From there, the race was a straight contest to the finish with drivers bolting for the chequered flag – energy calculations measured to the tenth of a percentage point opening up a flat out finish.
    On the outside of Turn 5, with three laps to go, da Costa swooped by Rowland for first while Jean-Eric Vergne, Dennis and Guenther battled in behind.

    It was Da Costa who led Rowland home for his first win of the season, and Jake Dennis pipped Vergne for third.

    However, Formula E isn’t Formula E without someone being penalised… Antonio Felix da Costa has been disqualified from the Misano E-Prix Round 6 as the throttle damper spring on his car was not found in conformity with one of the three optional declared items.

    As a result, the cars beneath da Costa in the original race classification move up a slot, meaning Nissan’s Oliver Rowland inherits the race win.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Rowland, P2: Dennis, P3: Guenther, P4: Ticktum, P5: Evans, P6: Vergne, P7: Nato, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Fenestraz and P10: Di Grassi.

  • ABT to partner with Lola and Yamaha from Season 11

    ABT have confirmed their entry for Gen3 EVO, starting next season, alongside newly-registered powertrain manufacturer Lola Cars, in technical partnership with Yamaha Motor Company.

    After a brief hiatus, the title-winning ABT team re-joined the Formula E grid in 2023 for Season 10 alongside CUPRA as its partner, equipped with a Mahindra Racing powertrain.

    The contract with Mahindra has since been mutually terminated, coming to an end at the end of the current season. ABT now enters into a fresh alliance with motorsport icons.

    Preparations for the launch are well underway at Lola and Yamaha, with software refinement and hardware testing in progress on the dyno. The inaugural on-track shakedown of the powertrain is scheduled for June, Further updates, including the unveiling of a title partner, additional sponsors, team structure and nomenclature, driver line-up and car design will all be disclosed in the coming months.

    ABT is among Formula E’s most successful outfits, with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler winners of the Drivers’ title at the hands of Lucas di Grassi in 2017/17 and the Teams’ Championship in 2017/18.
    The German outfit has been part of Formula E from the very first race in Beijing and has 47 podium finishes and more than 1,400 points to its name.

    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is thrilled to welcome Lola Cars and Yamaha Motor to the paddock, and excited for ABT as they embark on this exciting journey together for the highly-anticipated GEN3 Evo era. This partnership signifies their commitment to innovation and performance in the world of electric racing and EV development, and we will be eagerly waiting to see the impact they will make on track.

    Alberto Longo, Chief Championship Officer of Formula E.

    We are delighted to have found two renowned partners for our future in Formula E. Of course, it will be a big challenge for a new manufacturer to enter and establish itself in a world championship. But during our discussions and negotiations over the past few months, we have clearly sensed how skilled, motivated and determined Lola and Yamaha are to make this project a success – just like every member of our team. In the meantime, we are fully focused on the current season. Our goal is to achieve as many sporting highlights as possible in the coming weeks.

    Thomas Biermaier, CEO and Team Principal of ABT.

    We are thrilled to be partnering with ABT as we bring the technology we’ve developed with Yamaha Motor Company to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It’s exciting to be working with a team that has so much history and success in the sport. Operating factory-backed programmes is ABT’s bread and butter and their experience in Formula E will give us a critical leg up. We look forward to developing our relationship within and beyond the electric racing series.

    Till Bechtoisheimer, Chairman of Lola Cars.

  • Eriksson & Aron step in at Envision for Berlin

    Envision Racing have announced a changed line-up for the Berlin race weekend – Round 9 & 10 on the 11th to 12th May, with Joel Eriksson and Paul Aron stepping into the seats.

    A calendar clash with the FIA World Endurance Championship rules Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns out of Round 9, with the FIA regulations preventing them competing in Round 10 on the Sunday – with the two races being considered as the same event. Both Buemi and Frijns will be on-site in support of the team.

    Eriksson, 25 is the current Jaguar TCS Racing test, simulator and reserve driver and has been released by Jaguar and will race for the team.
    The Swede who tested with Envision back in 2018, has already competed in eight Formula E races to date and is very familiar with both Gen3 and the Jaguar powertain.

    Aron, 20 is currently competing in FIA Formula 2 and sits second in the current standings for his rookie campaign, deeming himself one of the most exciting young prospects in single-seater racing. He has already grabbed three podium finishes this season.

    Aron will embark on an intensive simulator programme with the team to get him prepared for Berlin as well as taking part in Free Practice 0 at Misano.

    This is a very unusual situation for us as a team, and we are obviously frustrated that the calendar clash could not be resolved by the FIA and FEO. However, we have to make the best of the situation, and I believe with both Joel and Paul we have two very exciting and competitive drivers.

    Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO at Envision Racing.

    It’s a great opportunity to race for Envision Racing in Berlin. I’m very much looking forward to experiencing Formula E for the first time and working with the team. We’ll be working hard up until the race to prepare for the event, starting with the rookie session this week in Misano.

    Aron on the news.

    It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to be racing in Formula E again, this time with Envision Racing. After taking part in my first ever Formula E test with Envision, it’s great to be racing for them in Berlin, and we’ll be working hard together to have a successful weekend.

    Eriksson on the news.

  • Barnard confirmed by NEOM McLaren for Misano

    NEOM McLaren will be giving Taylor Barnard another opportunity behind the wheel of their Gen3 car at the Misano Rookie Free Practice session on Friday 12th April.

    Barnard, from Norwich England, entered single seater racing in 2020. Since then, he has become the 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 and finished the season 10th in the Drivers’ standings. He has now moved up to FIA Formula 2 for the 2024 season.

    Taylor got his first taste of Formula E racing in October 2023, having driven for the team as a rookie driver during the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Valencia Pre-Season Test.
    Since then, he’s become an integral part of the team in his role as Reserve and Development Driver for NEOM McLaren.

    I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the NEOM McLaren GEN3 car in Misano. I’ve enjoyed working with the team so far this year as Reserve and Development Driver, and I’m looking forward to putting this into practice on-track.

    Barnard on the news.

    I am delighted that Taylor will be representing the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team in the Misano Rookie Free Practice Session next week. In his current role of Reserve and Development driver, Taylor is an integral part of the team and has helped us improve our performance on-track. This session will help him further understand the team and the correlation between his work in our simulator and on-track racing, while giving him that all-important experience in GEN3 machinery.

    Ian James, Team Principal.

  • Porsche announce Formula E rookies

    Matt Campbell is set to jump into the car at Porsche at Misano Rookie Free Practice session.
    Porsche’s sportscar racer will take part in FP0 on Formula E’s visit to Misano ahead of Rounds 6 & 7, which will be his first taste of Formula E machinery.

    Campbell has more than impressed so far in 2024, with wins at the famed Daytona 24 Hours and Bathurst 12 Hours for Porsche, while he took pole and third position in the FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener in Qatar in March.

    Porsche works driver, Thomas Preining will be joining Dennis Hauger at Porsche for the Rookie Test after May’s Berlin double-header, at the all-day session on Monday 13th May.

    Preining is currently competing in Deustche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), where he won the championship last year. His been racing in the championship since 2022, which he scored his and Porsche’s first win in the series.
    Due to Preining’s affiliation with Porsche, their Formula E team offered him a drive in the Rookie Test at Marrakech back in 2020.

    Hauger who currently races in Formula 2, won the FIA Formula 3 Championship back in 2021 and the Italian F4 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing.
    In September 2017, Hauger was named as one of Red Bull Junior Team, and later announced as one of four reserve drivers for the Formula One team in 2023. Hauger then announced he would split with Red Bull following the end of 2023 after six years with the team.

  • Aitken to return to Formula E with Envision

    Jack Aitken, the current IMSA and DTM racer and past Formula 1 reserve driver, will be in the cockpit in Misano at the Rookie Free Practice session with Envision Racing.

    After getting behind the wheel of a Formula E car for the first time in May at the Berlin Rookie Test last season, Aitken also had a further opportunity to test for the Silverstone-based outfit ahead of July’s double-header in the Italian capital.

    Prior to Formula E’s first visit to Misano this season, there’s another Rookie Free Practice session with FP0, on Friday set to offer fresh faces a chance in the world’s foremost electric race series – and Aitken is set for another opportunity to impress and assist the team as they continue to gather data and insights into their Gen3 development.

    The British-South Korean racer has a vast amount of single-seater experience in his career to-date, including making his Formula 1 debut with Williams Racing at the Sakhir Grand Prix back in 2020.

    I’m looking forward to another outing with Envision, this time at Misano, a much more traditional circuit than the ones I’ve experienced so far. Apart from this change in scenery I’m glad to join the team at another event, it’s always fascinating to sample the car and then watch and learn from everyone during the weekend.

    Aitken on the news.

    We are very pleased to welcome Jack Aitken back to Envision Racing for the rookie session in Misano. Jack provided lots of useful feedback to the team following his tests last season in Berlin and Rome, so we are excited to have him step into the car again. This will be our first ever race in Misano, and we are confident Jack will once again provide the team with great feedback following the session.

    Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and Chief Technical Officer at Envision Racing.

  • Tim Tramnitz will test for ABT CUPRA

    German racer, Tim Tramnitz will jump back into the ABT Cupra’s Gen3 car again this season, in Free Practice in Misano and at the Berlin Rookie Test after the Berlin double-header.

    Tramnitz has already tested for the team in 2023, and made a strong impression strong enough for an invite back to take part in the rookie tests.

    The 19 year old, first started karting back in 2011 and continued until 2019 getting lots of experience under his belt. In 2020 he moved to single seaters where he raced in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship.

    From there he went on to do ADAC F4 again but this time he paired it with Italian F4, he had strong campaigns in both, where he finished runner-up in both series’.
    The German driver went on to compete in the Formula Regional European Championship, and then moved to Formula 3 this year for his rookie season.

    Last year, Tramnitz got announced as a member of the Red Bull Junior Team. He is also part of Motorsport Team Germany and has been a member of the ADAC Sports Foundation team for seven years.

    I am really looking forward to the ABT team and the Formula E test. The first few hours last year were already a lot of fun – and it’s always cool to sit in a race car. I especially like working with the engineers when we look at and analyze all the data, because it’s much more comprehensive than it is for me in Formula 3. I can learn a lot and take a lot with me.

    Tramnitz on the news.

    Tim was not only consistently fast at his first test in 2023 and gave our engineers good feedback, but he is also simply a great guy. That was obviously a perfect start – especially because Formula 3 has many new challenges with tyre management, more aerodynamics on the car and DRS.

    Thomas Biermaier, Team Principal on Tramnitz and getting off to a dream start in F3 with a podium.

  • Nissan becomes first Manufacturer to commit to Gen4

    Nissan has committed at least an additional four years to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship until 2030, continuing its manufacturer outfit into the Gen4 era.

    During a press conference held in Tokyo ahead of the first Formula E race in Japan last weekend, Nissan Formula E Team Managing Director and Team Principal Tommaso Volpe signed the official registration document for car manufacturers in the FIA Formula E World Championship for Seasons 13 to 16.

    The historic agreement emphasises a long-term partnership aimed at advancing electric racing technology and underscores Formula E, Nissan the FIA’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of electric mobility and innovation on the global stage.
    It also marks the first of the Formula E manufacturers in the paddock to commit to Formula E’s next chapter: GEN4.

    The next-generation GEN4 technology will herald a new era of electric racing, boasting unparalleled advancements in energy efficiency, race performance and safety innovations.
    It will include cutting-edge features, such as regeneration capacity up to 700kW, and increased power output to 600kW and safety innovations.

    The Nissan team is one of the most successful and long-standing teams in the Formula E paddock. Since its entry into Formula E in Season 5, Nissan has expanded its operations, exemplified by the recent relocation of the Nissan Formula E team headquarters to the Paris area.

    Nissan’s pledge extends its ABB FIA Formula E World Championship involvement to at least 12 years, marking a significant milestone in the company’s motorsport history. With Formula E serving as the ultimate testing ground for Nissan’s electric vehicle technology, this commitment also aligns seamlessly with Nissan’s Ambition 2030 objectives. This ambitious plan positions electrification as the cornerstone of Nissan’s strategy, with a goal to introduce 34 new electrified models by fiscal year 2030.

    We’re very happy at Formula E to see Nissan extending their involvement in the series until 2030. Nissan shares our values of promoting sustainability around the world, striving for the best automotive performance through electric solutions. Having a truly global brand like Nissan, with great presence in every country we visit and beyond, is vital for us as a truly global championship. It not only helps us promote the series to a wider and more diverse audience, but also contributes enormously to promote EV technology worldwide. Nissan is a highly respected manufacturer that is perfectly aligned with our goals and values, and we’re excited to see the role the marque will play in the bright future ahead of us.

    Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E.

    We’re extremely pleased to continue our involvement in Formula E until 2030. In addition to bringing excitement and an on-track spectacle to our fans, our participation in the series will make a significant contribution to our electrification goals set out in our Ambition 2030 plans. The technological breakthroughs that we make on the track will provide great insights to the development of our future products. We’re excited to see the future of electric racing unfold and to keep working towards a sustainable world for everyone.

    Makoto Uchida, CEO of Nissan Motor Corporation.

    I’m delighted to confirm our long-term future in Formula E as a manufacturer. We’re also proud to be the first company to sign up until 2030, which is a big year for Nissan as we aim to match or exceed the targets set out in our Ambition 2030 pledge. Formula E is an incredible testing ground for new electric technology, and we can’t wait to continue to develop and compete until at least the end of Season 16. The team is on an upward trajectory, and our new headquarters will contribute massively to future growth, with advanced facilities helping us to develop our car for future seasons. A big thank you to Formula E Operations and to the FIA for their support – we’re very excited to continue working together.

    Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal of Nissan Formula E Team.

  • Lola Cars returns to top tier Motorsport with Yamaha

    Lola Cars have announced that it is returning to global motorsport in a multi-year technical partnership with Yamaha Motor Company and will enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from Season 11.

    The iconic, globally renowned motorsport brand. which has more than 500 championship wins, is working with Yamaha to develop and supply a powertrain to compete in the world’s first all-electric, single seater race series.

    With track racing deep in the DNA of both Lola Cars and Yamaha, this new partnership not only provides an opportunity to join the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as it moves to the Gen3 Evo platform for the 2024/25 season but also creates opportunities across global motorsport and in the broader zero emissions transportation space.

    Founded by Eric Broadley in 1958, Lola Cars has designed and produced nearly 5000 race cars spanning 400 different model types, gaining unparalleled success in motorsport championships around the world, including:
    IndyCarm Le Mans, Formula 1, Can-Am, Formula 3000, Formula 5000, A1GP, Formula Ford and Touring Cars.

    This partnership continues Lola Cars’ longstanding prominence in Japan. Lola Cars has a long history of involvement in Japanese motorsport, primarily in what is now known as the Japanese Super Formula CHampionship, winning 13 Championships in two decades from 1987 when it was known as the All Japan F3000.

    We are thrilled to confirm our entry in Formula E. For us, this is more than just an opportunity to return Lola to the track, it’s also a fantastic platform for technological development. Lola Cars has a decorated history of success in chassis and aerodynamic design. This project will allow us to create a unique electrified platform with a software focus at its core to provide a basis for Lola’s wider plans in defining the future of motorsport technology. The partnership is the first of several major projects planned to re-establish the British company as an industry leader in sustainable engineering and motorsport, strategically focusing on three areas of electrification, hydrogen and sustainable fuels and materials.

    Mark Preston, Motorsport Director, Lola Cars.

    We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the Yamaha Motor Company as we enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. To be selected by one of the most innovative OEMs in the world to partner on a project of this significance is a testament to the caliber of the team that we have been building at Lola. The focus of this project is squarely around technological development in which Lola is fully invested. We see the highly efficient 350 kW electric powertrain that underpins the manufacturer’s perimeter in Formula E, as a cornerstone technology with exciting applications across many forms of topflight international motorsport in the coming years.

    Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman Lola Cars.

    Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability. As the technical partner, we hope to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through the highest level of electric racing in Formula E. We also share Lola’s new philosophy of sustainable motorsport and we are very pleased and honored to form this partnership with them.

    Heiji Maruyama, Managing Executive Office and Director of Yamaha Motor Co.

  • RND 5 – Tokyo E-Prix

    FP1-

    Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns headed the way in an eventful FP1 session on Formula E’s first visit to Tokyo.

    The top 15 runners were split by less than a second and six teams represented in the top six at the chequered flag, with the field getting their first taste of the Odaiba streets.

    The sun shone down for the first Free Practice 1 session in Tokyo, a big contrast to the weather seen in the capital that morning.
    The heavy rain was still left around parts of the track which made it even more challenging for the drivers.

    One area affected by the standing water was Turn 1 with drivers such as TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa and ABT CUPRA’s Lucas di Grassi going wide just minutes into the session.

    Red flags were shown eight minutes in when the DS Penske of Stoffel Vandoorne came to a halt at the entry into Turn 4. The Season 8 World Champion had a technical problem with his Gen3 machine.

    Reigning Champion, Jake Dennis made a small but costly mistake as he nudged his Andretti into the barriers at Turn 16, with the front nose taking most of the impact.

    There was also an unusual incident between Sam Bird and Sacha Fenestraz towards the end of practice. Fenestraz was whacked by Bird as they both entered the first turn and suffered significant damage to the front of his car.

    FP2-

    Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans set the fastest time of Free Practice 2, a 1m19.339s as the grid got grips with the new circuit.

    The track will still wet after the huge downpour yesterday morning with Turn 1 still being rather slippery with standing water, which isn’t ideal.

    Both Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns set the pace early on, with Frijns going quickest overall in Free Practice 1. However timings were soon improved by the likes of Andretti’s Jake Dennis, TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein and ERT’s Dan Ticktum the top three before a red flag brought a stop to running.

    The red flag was issued due to Lucas di Grassi as he clipped the front of his car near turn 12 which caused a range of debris to litter the track.

    Things got going again quickly and drivers were keen to get out again, Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara has been looking rapid. His teammate Nyck de Vries lost part of his front wing on a lap towards the end of the session, having to pull into the pit lane to have some repairs.

    Qualifying-

    Nissan and Oliver Rowland made history in Japan, as the home team achieved the Julius Baer Pole Position for the second time this season.

    Rowland was just 0.021s ahead of the Maserati MSG Racing of Maximilian Gunther in the finals, as big names like Championship leader Nick Cassidy will start in 19th due to having his lap time deleted for a technical infraction.

    In Group A, Oliver Rowland went quickest with a 1m19.658s. Edoardo Mortara was just behind him by 0.020s. Nick Cassidy got through in third, but his lap time was deleted. Jake Dennis got the final sport, and was promoted to third due to Cassidy, which meant his teammate Evans moved into fourth.
    However, Jake Hughes and Mitch Evans were also placed under investigation for impeding.

    The drama didn’t stop there, as Group B also had some. ERT’s Sergio Sette Camara made contact with the wall early on, which sent debris scattering onto the track, but he still managed to find his way to the duels.
    He was beaten to the top spot by Maximilian Gunther who set a 1m19.391s. Joining him in the duels was Nico Mueller and championship favourite TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein.
    There was also a close moment between the NEOM McLaren of Sam Bird and Mahindra Racing’s Nyck de Vries who both went down an escape road near Turn 16.

    The Qualifying top 10 is- Pole: Rowland, P2: Gunther, P3: Mortara, P4: Sette Camara, P5: Dennis, P6: Evans, P7: Wehrlein, P8: Muller, P9: Da Costa and P10: Frijns.

    Round 5-

    Rowland held fast off the line to keep the lead with Mahindra’s Mortara clambering over the back of the Nissan as he gained ground on Gunther into second.
    Through the opening laps, less than 10 second split the 22 car field with the lead three separated by less than a second.

    On lap 3, Ticktum, Fenestraz and Buemi were the first drivers to jump for the initial of two mandatory Attack Mode. Meanwhile, Wehrlein was looking raciest in the top 10 – making it by Sette Camara for fifth at Turn 1 on the same lap, and hassling Dennis for fourth.

    Wehrlein was the first of the front runners to jump for Attack Mode on lap 8, with Da Costa holding off the chasing pack to make the German’s life easier.
    On lap 10, Rowland led Mortara and Gunther with again no more than a second between them. Rowland jumped for attack and held the lead while Mortara followed from second – dropping down to third with Gunther profiting in the process.

    Da Costa had dispatched Dennis at Turn 15 on Lap 17, and made it by his teammate Wehrlein who was shuffled to sixth and some front wing damage.
    A lap later, Jaguar’s 100th celebrations came to a quick end with Mitch Evans out in contact with Frijns in an overambitious overtaking manoeuvre gone wrong.

    The race fired into life from there, with Nato and Frijns sixth and seventh on Lap 18, jumping for Attack Mode. Dennis was just ahead of the pair, with the Brit able to help his teammate and vice versa with track position through their attack mode activations.

    Rowland gave up track position to Gunther on lap 24, with the Brit happy to save energy in the slipstream, aware that the Maserati driver was yet to take his second Attack Mode which should allow the Nissan back ahead.

    However, Rowland could only hang on some 1.7 second back which meant Gunther was able to take his Attack and hold the lead. Mortara was in third, and was holding off the close attention of da Costa, Dennis, Nato and Wehrlein.

    Nato took his final 50kW boost on lap 31 and in the accordian effect, Frijns unfortunately got caught up in contact and span out in 10th spot.

    Da Costa spied a chance to jump onto the podium around the outside of Turn 15 however Dennis was not having any of it.
    Rowland did his utmost to pressure Gunther for the lead with a look around the outside of Turn 1 and the inside of Turn 3 but Gunther’s Maserati looked really wide.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Gunther, P2: Rowland, P3: Dennis, P4: Da Costa, P5: Wehrlein, P6: Nato, P7: Muller, P8: Cassidy, P9: Frijns and P10: Sette Camara.

    Now we have less than two weeks until the next race weekend! As we head to Misano, Italy for Round 6 and 7!

  • Andretti to run Maloney & Crawford in rookie tests

    Andretti have chosen Zane Maloney who will take the wheel of the teams’ Porsche 99X Electric in the Free Practice 0 session in Misano and the Berlin Rookie Test, with Jak Crawford joining the American squad for the first time to sample the Gen3 machine.

    The next generation of racing talent will again have a chance to showcase their skills in Season 10. Free Practice 0 running ahead of the 2024 Misano E-Prix on Friday 12th April, followed by the 2024 Berlin Rookie Test after the double-header in the German capital on Monday 13th May.

    Andretti is the first team to reveal the two drivers stepping into the seat of reigning champion, Jake Dennis and teammate Norman Nato.
    Zane Maloney is back to represent the American outfit, as he is the team’s official reserve and development by running laps in the FPO session in Milano.

    Maloney will again take part in the Berlin test and American Jak Crawford will join for a full day behind the wheel of the Gen3 machine around the Tempelhof circuit.

    Crawford who will make his Formula E debut at the 2024 Berlin Rookie Test has enjoyed a long history of on track success starting in karts before making his car racing debut in Formula 4 in 2018.
    After two years in FIA Formula 3, Crawford was promoted to Formula 2 quickly becoming a race winner at the Sprint race in Austria in 2023.

    Recently announced to the Aston Martin Young Driver Development program, Crawford will be the seventh American to participate in an official Formula E session joining fellow countrymen Marco Andretti, Matthew Brabham, Scott Speed, Oliver Askew, Colton Herta and Kyle Kirkwood.

    I can’t wait to represent Andretti Formula E once again at both Misano and Berlin. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the team and thank them for all the trust they have put in me. It will be interesting to see how the development work I’ve contributed to behind the scenes translates to the actual car on track during both occasions I get to drive it.

    Maloney on the news.

    We are excited to announce Zane Maloney’s participation in the Free Practice 0 session at the 2024 Misano E-Prix, as well as his inclusion in our 2024 Berlin Rookie Test lineup. Zane has proven to be a valuable asset to our team through his development work on the simulator, and we are confident that his knowledge will benefit us during the Misano E-Prix doubleheader weekend and the Berlin Rookie Test. Additionally, we are pleased to announce Jak Crawford’s rookie debut at  the Berlin Rookie Test,which marks an important milestone in his career. We look forward to seeing him showcase his talents on the Formula E stage. These opportunities are integral to Andretti Global’s commitment to developing and mentoring the next generation of drivers, and we are eager to see both Zane and Jak excel on track.

    Roger Griffiths, Andretti Team Principal.

  • RND 4- Sao Paulo E-Prix

    Free Practice 1-
    Mitch Evans started his Sao Paulo weekend in the best way possible, as the Jaguar TCS Racing driver topped the first free practice session of the weekend.

    The Jaguar team come into the weekend as the favourites after dominating the race result here last season. The British manufacturer achieved their first 1-2-3 result here as a powertrain supplier, and will look to replicate it again.

    This 2.93km street circuit is home to the longest straight in Formula E, and will certainly be a prime overtaking spot.
    ERT’s Dan Ticktum was using the session to find the limits, going off at the entry into the first chicane and having to rejoin the track down at Turn 3 where ATTACK MODE is.

    With halfway through the session, Stoffel Vandoorne was fastest on track. However, track evolution meant the times kept tumbling. Edoardo Mortara of Mahindra Racing went second just 0.028s off Mitch Evans. Ticktum slot into third with less that two minutes to go.

    Free Practice 2-
    NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird topped the timesheets for the second and final free practice in Sao Paulo, as the grid prepare for qualifying. The Brit, who stood on the podium here last year, set a time of 1:12.773s in a session that was impacted by a red flag.

    Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans also suffered an unlucky mechanical issue which limited the running time for him. Team Principal, James Barclays confirmed that the problem was with the car’s front driveshaft but the team were quick to try and fix it.

    Maximilian Guenther went quickest 10 minutes into FP2, but despite the German’s rapid pace he will be starting toward the back of the grid as he picked up a 20 place grid penalty for changing his gearbox before FP2.

    Double waved yellows were waved with nine minutes of practice left to go, after Edoardo Mortara received a warning on the steering wheel of his Mahindra Racing telling him to stop the car.
    The six time race winner pulled his car over to the side off the track just after Turn 3, and brought out the red flags as his car needed to be recovered.

    The session did get back to green flag racing for the last minute, but left no time for setting fast laps. Instead, the grid completed some practice starts ahead of the race.

    Qualifying-

    TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein managed to grab a second Julius Baer Pole Position of the season, beating DS Penske’s Stoffel Vandoorne but just 0.002s – the second closest pole margin in Formula E history.

    It was a dramatic session for the Jaguar powertrain cars, with Evans being the highest placed car in fourth. Nick Cassidy, who leads the championship, failed to make it through to the Duels and will start ninth, with both Envision cars down in 17th and 18th.

    DS Penske had a very strong qualifying, as Vandoorne starts second and Jean-Eric Vergne just behind him in third. A great result for new Deputy Team Principal Phil Charles.

    Nico Muller made a surprise appearance in the Duels, but an earlier incident meant he wasn’t able to make it to the track in the Quarter finals.

    Maserati’s Maximilian Guenther will start from the back of the pack due to the grid-drop penalty mentioned earlier – the German’s penalty also incurring a stop/go penalty on the race.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Wehrelin, P2: Vandoorne, P3: Vergne, P4: Evans, P5: Bird, P6: Mortara, P7: Muller, P8: Da Costa, P9: Cassidy and P10: Dennis.

    Round 4-

    Sam Bird sealed one of the most dramatic victories in Formula E history in the Sao Paulo E-Prix Round 4, with a stunning final lap move on former teammate Mitch Evans to secure NEOM McLaren’s first victory in the World Championship and his first with the team.

    Wehrlein started sharply to lead with Vandoorne following as you were into Turn 1 in second, with Evans jumping Verge for third. Porsche’s da Costa made a demon launch, gaining two spots to sixth off-the-line and defending hard from Mortara’s Mahindra to hold that spot over lap 1.

    The lead group squabbled constantly as each looked to maximise their energy consumption while keeping pace with leader Bird. Evans had briefly took third before losing it at Turn 1 on lap 6 to Wehrlein.

    A Safety Car was required for the recovery of a rogue Andretti front wing as Nato hit Di Grassi as the pack squeezed through the first chicane. The Brazilian also lost his front wing while standings leader Cassidy gave the front of his car a nudge into the same corner at the start of lap 8.

    More lead changes happened once green flag conditions continued, as Da Costa and Evans hit the front then dropped back into the mix with their second attack mode activations- but Jake Dennis had been quietly working his way through from 10th at the start to lead on lap 12.

    Lap 16 saw a huge moment, with Drivers’ World Championship leader Cassidy’s three-race podium streak coming to an end as the Jaguar driver smashed into the wall through Turn 9 as he slid wide at speed – his front wing falling loose beneath his front wheels.

    Through the clamour before the Safety Car, Bird managed to retake the lead and had half a percent of usable energy in hand over Evans, now in second.
    Lap 20, saw the green flag fly again with Bird leading Evans, Wehrlein, Dennis, Da Costa, Vergne, Rowland, Vandoorne, Guenther and Buemi in the top 10.

    As the laps ticked down, Bird and Evans continued to hold the advantage. Despite Dennis in third, keeping 1.5% usable energy in hand, his car was running too hot to capitalise.
    Inside the final seven laps, including three added on for those periods under the Safety Car, Evans appeared to have done enough with a move around the outside of Bird at Turn 3 for P1.

    However, the McLaren driver was not done. He could not resist a last-ditch manoeuvre on his old teammate. Bird went all the way around the outside of Turn 10 is last chance to make something stick and hung on to take the inside line and the lead into Turn 11, steering to the win with Evans just half a second back.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Bird, P2: Evans, P3: Rowland, P4: Wehrlein, P5: Dennis, P6: Da Costa, P7: Vergne, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Guenther and P10: Buemi.

    We don’t have to wait too long till the next race, as it’s less than two weeks away on the 30th March and we head to Japan for the Tokyo E-Prix!

  • RND 2 – Diriyah E-Prix

    FP1-

    Nissan’s Oliver Rowland went quickest in the Diriyan desert, as the grid prepared to take on the first double header of the season.

    Track evolution meant that the times kept tumbling, although the session was brought to a brief halt as the Envision Racing car of Sebastien Buemi stopped on track.

    Jean Eric-Vergne for DS PENSKE finished the session in second 0.165s behind Rowland, with his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne popping into third.

    The Envision Racing duo of Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns were the first to set the lap times, but quickly the rest of the grid followed. Reigning champion, Jake Dennis was the last to get a time in, but it didn’t impact his session as he finished in the top five.

    Just over halfway through the session, double yellow flags were waved as Buemi came to a stop on the circuit between Turns 3 and 4. He made his way back to the garage, but his car was in a red condition which meant extra precautions had to be taken to remove it from the track.
    As a result of the delay, the session was extended by 12 minutes by the FIA to make sure the drivers got as many laps on the board as possible.

    FP2-

    Andretti’s Norman Nato topped the timesheets in the second Free Practice session, as the drivers took to the epic Diriyah track in the midday sun.
    His teammate, Jake Dennis finished third, with Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther sandwiched between the two in second.

    Teams and drivers headed out in the midday sun to get as much track time and data as they could. Track evolution continues to be rapid here, as the dirt and dust from the desert is kicked up by the grid as they fly around this 2.49km circuit.

    Jake Dennis topped the timesheets with a 1m15.067s as he set the three fastest sectors with 18 minutes to go, and continued to keep locking in faster laps over the session.

    Both Mahindras were looking rapid, with Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries going first and second with 13 minutes left on the clock. De Vries has won here twice before and Mortara has had some amazing overtakes.

    Qualifying-

    DS PENSKE’s Jean Eric-Vergne sealed Julius Baer Pole Position and jumped up to the top of the Drivers’ standings.

    Vergne went up against the Jaguar TCS Racing of Mitch Evans as both drivers and teams were fighting for their first pole at this circuit.

    Group A, was packed with lots of familiar favourites. However it was Cassidy, Dennis, Wehrlein and Evans who made it through. Last year’s polesitter Jake Hughes looked an early favourite, as he pushed his McLaren to the limit and even clipped the wall slightly to get himself half a second clear.
    However, a second attempt at a fast lap led to Hughes making a mistake and not doing enough to improve on his time to finish fifth in the group.

    Group B, the next group took to track shortly after, with plenty of big names trying to make it through to the Duels.

    In the end it was Vergne who went to the top when the chequered flag fell with a 1m 12.856s. Joining him in the Semi’s was Sette Camara who got ERT’s first Duels appearance of the year, Guenther in third and Nato in fourth.

    The biggest shock of the Group Stages were Antonio Felix da Costa as he finished Group B in ninth. The season 6 champion hasn’t looked completely comfortable in his Porsche so far this weekend, so will hope he can make up some good positions.

    The full top 10 from qualifying are- P1: Vergne, P2: Evans, P3: Dennis, P4: Sette Camara, P5: Nato, P6: Wehrlein, P7: Cassidy, P8: Guenther, P9: Bird and P10: Hughes.

    Round 2-

    Reigning champion, Jake Dennis bounced back from disappointment in the Mexico City season-opener to win by more than 13 seconds in the first round of the Diriyah double-header!

    Polesitter, Jean Eric Vergne had bolted off the line to hold an early lead and was forced into fending off the Jaguar TCS Racing pair of Mitch Ecans and Nick Cassidy as the race reached its climax.

    A last lap lunge from Evans, running third at the time but with second in his sight, cost the Kiwi a podium as he overcooked the stop into Turn 18, handing third to his teammate Cassidy.
    Cassidy, took his own direction on strategy of the leaders, opting to take his two mandatory Attack Mode boosts late on as he clambered through from seventh on the grid at the start.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Dennis, P2: Vergne, P3: Cassidy, P4: Bird, P5: Evans, P6: Nato, P7: Guenther, P8: Wehrlein, P9: Sette Camara and P10: Frijns.

  • NEOM McLaren announce Barnard as Reserve

    NEOM McLaren has confirmed Taylor Barnard will be its Reserve and Development driver through Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    In his new role, Barnard will work directly with the team in Bicester and Woking, contributing to the team’s development, while growing his knowledge and experience within the series.

    The 19 year old got his first taste of Formula E in October 2023, having driven for the team as a rookie driver during the Valencia pre-season test.

    Barnard from Norwich, England, first entered single seater racing in 2020. Since then, he has become the 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.

    I’m super excited and honoured to be joining the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team as a Reserve and Development Driver. Having an opportunity to work with a team such as NEOM McLaren is a great opportunity for my future and I will be working as hard as I can to support the team and working hard to learn as much as possible!

    Barnard on the news.

    I am delighted to officially welcome Taylor to the team, after giving him his first taste of electric racing in Valencia last October. He is an incredibly impressive up-and-coming talent in single seater motorsport, and I’m looking forward to working with him in 2024. Taylor will play an important role within our team, and I am confident he will be adding value to the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team with his drive and talent, while also gaining valuable experience himself along the way.

    Ian James, Managing Director, NEOM McLaren Electric Racing and Team Principal, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.

  • RND 1 – Mexico City E-Prix

    FP1-

    The FIA Formula E World Championship got underway with Free Practice 1 in Mexico City. 22 drivers took to the 2.63km Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, but it was NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes who set the early pace with a 1m 14.364s.

    However, no sooner had the British driver gone top of the timesheet’s, he had made a mistake and ended in the barrier. TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein finished in second, with ABT CUPRA’s Nico Mueller making a surprise appearance in third.

    Getting the laps in under the hot Mexican sun, Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans started quickest. However, green flag conditions didn’t last long as Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther brought a stop to the session.

    Guenther managed to slide his way around the final corner in dramatic fashion, kicking up a tonne of dust in the process. But although the move might have looked stylish, the four-time race winner damaged his suspension in the process.

    The dirty track made for lots of close calls coming out of the final corner, with Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz almost replicating the same slide as Guenther but with better consequences as he just ran wide over the kerb.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Hughes, P2: Wehrlein, P3: Muller, P4: Frijns, P5: Dennis, P6: Da Costa, P7: Evans, P8: Fenestraz, P9: Rowland and P10: Nato.

    FP2-

    Mitch Evans topped the timesheets on the first session of race day in Mexico City. The Kiwi driver, who will start the E-Prix with a one place grid penalty for not following red flag procedure in FP1, finished with a time of 1m 13.606s.

    Maserati’s Maximilian Guenther finished in second which would be a welcomed result after hitting the wall the day before, and third was Envision’s newest recruit Robin Frijns.

    It was a cold start to the second Free Practice session as it got underway at 7:30 local time. The low temperatures meant drivers would take a few more laps than usual to warm up their tyres.

    With ever-changing conditions, the times were always improving. Several drivers were pushing their Gen3 cars to their limits, with reigning champion Jake Dennis exploring all of the track and NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird going straight on at Turn 1.

    ERT Formula E’s Sergio Sette Camara brought out some double-waved yellows with seven minutes left of the session. The Brazilian made a similar mistake making contact with the barriers in shakedown.

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

    Qualifying-

    Formula E’s first qualifying of the year got underway, with drivers wasting no time heading out onto the track.
    During Group A, Norman Nato kissed the barriers on the entry to the iconic Foro Sol stadium and narrowly managed to avoid any serious damage and contact with the wall.
    Not only this, Lucas di Grassi had a whack with the barriers, on what is the team’s 100th E-Prix in Formula E. Dan Ticktum was on a strong lap, before he was impacted by debris from di Grassi’s incident.

    In Group B, it was much less eventful on track, with Maximilian Guenther going top. Joining him in the duels were Hughes, BUemi and Evans.
    There was plenty of eyes on Nyck de Vries in the Mahindra car as the Season 7 Champ makes his return to Formula E.

    TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein started Round 1 in the best possible fashion, sealing Julius Baer Pole Position in Mexico City. He has tied the Formula E record for the most pole positions at a single circuit.

    Wehrlein took on Envision’s Racing’s Sebastien Buemi in the final of the duel, with both Jaguar TCS Racing drivers being knocked out of the semis.
    Reigning champion, Jake Dennis was knocked out during the Group stages and will start 14th in a shocking twist as he fights to retain his title in Season 10.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Wehrlein, P2: Buemi, P3: Cassidy, P4: Evans, P5: Gunther, P6: Hughes, P7: Vandoorne, P8: Frijns, P9: Fenestraz and P10: Vergne.

    Round 1-

    TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein repeated the feat of two seasons prior, where he secured his and Porsche’s first Formula E victory, as the German driver sealed another well-managed drive to the top step.
    He lead home, Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi and Jaguar TCS Racing debutant Nick Cassidy.

    Wehrlein, who was a title contender in Gen3’s inaugural campaign, threw down the gauntlet with a controlled drive from lights out and pole to the chequered flag, only briefly losing the lead through Attack Mode and a spell under Full Course Yellow.

    Robin Frijns, fell all the way back through the pack from seventh on the grid to 15th, thanks to a technical issue, causing a knock-one melee in mid-pack which forced him into making up a lot of places.

    At the start of lap 3, it was as you were in the top six with Wehrlein still leading. Meanwhile, contact between the sister TAG Heuer Porsche of Antonio Felix da Costa and Nico Mueller saw the end of the race with broken suspension for the former and the latter in the wall and to 19th and last.

    On lap 9, Robin Frijns – perhaps to make up for his slow start – found the wall, over cooking it on the exit of the Foro Sol and finding the wall in a big way, having just rounded Edo Mortara’s Mahindra.
    A full course yellow would be required for his car’s removal from the circuit.

    With the race reaching its climax, Wherlein looked comfortable and capable to managing things from P1 – with Buemi being held back by some two second with eight laps to go plus two added laps for time lost from the full course yellow.

    The top 10 is- P1: Wehrlein, P2: Buemi, P3: Cassidy, P4: Gunther, P5: Evans, P6: Vergne, P7: Hughes, P8: Vandoorne, P9: Dennis and P10: Nato.

  • Season 10 Calendar update

    Formula E has announced an update to the Season 10 calendar, with the cancellation of the Hyderabad E-Prix Round 4, which was scheduled for Saturday 10th February.

    The cancellation comes following a decision by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD), under the control of the Government of Telangana, not fulfil the Host City Agreement singed on 30th October 2023.

    Formula E Operations (FEO) has been left with no choice other than to formally give notice to MAUD that it is in breach of contract. FEO is considering what position there in currently and what steps they can take next under the Host City Agreement and applicable laws.

    The Hyderabad E-Prix would have been the only official FIA World Championship event in India in 2024 and was part of a multi-year agreement between Formula E and the Government of Telangana.

    Other host cities confirmed on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar for Season 10 include Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin, Monaco and London. The season begins next Saturday 13th January, with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix.

    We are extremely disappointed for the huge motorsport fanbase in India. We know that hosting an official motorsport world championship race is an important and prestigious occasion for Hyderabad and the whole country. The President of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), Akbar Ebrahim, and his team have been incredibly supportive in bringing Formula E back to Hyderabad. They share our disappointment in the decision of the Government of Telangana which means that will not happen.

    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Cheif Championship Officer, Formula E.

    It is deeply frustrating that we cannot build on the success of the inaugural race last year, which delivered almost 84m USD in positive economic impact to the region. We are also disappointed for our major Indian partners, particularly Mahindra and Tata Communications. Racing in Hyderabad was important to showcase the benefits of adopting electric vehicles in a market where pollution from vehicle engines has a massive impact on public health and the environment.

    Jeff Dodds, CEO Formula E.

  • Jake Dennis signs Multi-Year extension with Andretti

    Reigning ABB FIA Formula E World Champion Jake Dennis has secured a multi-year contract extension to continue racing for Andretti Formula E through Season 11 and beyond.

    Back for his fourth season in Formula E, Dennis will be the driver with the target on his back in Season 10 and the #1 on his Andretti after a record-breaking year that saw the British Driver score two wins, 11 podiums and two Julius Baer Pole Positions on his way to being number 1.

    Dennis first made his debut in Formula E with Andretti in 2021, ahead of Season 7, quickly showcasing his skills with two victories and challenging for the title in what was one of the most successful rookie seasons to date.

    In addition to his Formula E success, Dennis serves as a development driver for the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team and is also a BMW Factory driver.

    I began my Formula E journey with Andretti, and I’m excited to continue working with the team that has supported my career in this series. I’ve got immense respect for this team, and it will be an honour to continue as a driver for Andretti Global. The GEN3 era is an exciting time for us with the relationship with Porsche supplying the powertrain, which I won the championship with last season. I’m super motivated for next year and feel certain that with the dedication, teamwork and investment I’ve seen over the past three years in the team that we’ll be able to fight for more wins and success in the future.

    Dennis on the news.

    Jake has played a pivotal role in our Formula E team’s recent success. Securing Jake’s commitment underlines our shared vision for consistently competing for victories and championships, and we are confident that this extension will further strengthen our position on the global stage. We look forward to breaking more records and achieving new milestones together in the seasons ahead.

    Andretti Global CEO and Chairman, Michael Andretti.

    We are super excited to be able to announce the multi-year extension of Jake’s contract. Jake has been an integral part of the Andretti Formula E team for three seasons now and has proven time after time that he is one of the most competitive and talented drivers on the Formula E grid. His dedication, commitment and focus has been one of the key components contributing to the ongoing success of our Formula E program and we are all excited for what’s to come in the seasons ahead!

    Roger Griffiths, Team Principal.

  • Gen4 Suppliers Confirmed

    The next phase of progress and evolution of Formula E came one step closer as the FIA confirmed the choice of suppliers for the Gen4 race car, which is due to debut in Season 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2026/27.

    While Formula E is only nine seasons old, the on-track technology is ever-evolving and has undergone revolutionary changes in that short spell. We’ve come a long way since we made our debut back in 2014.

    Informed by the boundary-pushing GENBETA and the pioneering Gen3, the next evolution for Formula E is set to be GEN 3.5, which will hit the track in Seasons 11 and 12.

    Activation of the front powertrain in drive and use of four-wheel drive in certain scenarios, softer compound, ultimately quicker tyres and bodywork/aero tweaks are all on the table as possibilities, with lap times projected to be several seconds faster than is currently possible with Gen3 as it stands.

    Beyond that, Gen4 will bring the next major leap for the series, ensuring Formula E remains at the bleeding edge of world championship electric motorsport.

    Gen4 will be a net zero race car by design, like its predecessor but the boundaries of what is possible in this space are to be pushed yet.

    • Chassis: Spark Racing Technology will continue to supply the chassis’ to Formula E, as it has done since our inception.
    • Batteries: Podium AT – an Italian company with success across a variety of motorsport projects, will step up to become an FIA World Championship single supplier for the first time.
    • Front powertrain: Marelli – extending the Italian brand’s longstanding working relationship with the FIA.
    • Tyres: Bridgestone – marking the manufacturer’s return to an FIA World Championship for the first time in a decade and a half.

  • Lotterer & Beckmann in as Porsche’s Reserve Drivers

    Porsche motorsport legend, Andre Lotterer and David Beckmann will support TAG Heuer Porsche as its Test and Reserve Drivers for the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    With Lotterer, Porsche celebrated a successful Formula E debut in November 2019, when he took second place with the Porsche 99X electric at the opening round in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

    After a season competing for the new Porsche customer team Avalanche Andretti, the three time Le Mans winner’s main priority in 2024 will be the FIA Endurance World Championship with the Porsche Penske Motorsport team.

    For Beckmann, Season 10 will be his second as a test and reserve driver for the Porsche works team in Formula E.

    He turned his first laps on the racetrack with the Porsche 99X Electric in Calafat, Spain in autumn 2022 and took part in the official Rookie Test in sprint 2023 as part of the Berlin E-Prix weekend.
    As a reserve driver for the Porsche customer team, Avalanche Andretti, he celebrated his Formula E race debut in June at the double-header in Jakarta.

    Next season, our team will benefit from André’s wealth of Formula E experience. With David, we also have a young driver that we know well. He can also support us with the skill and experience he gained with our Porsche 99X Electric.

    Florian Modlinger, TAG Heuer Porsche’s Director of Factory Motorsport.

    After 26 years in single-seater racing, I have decided to close this chapter of my career and concentrate on the challenge of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Porsche 963. At the same time, I’m excited to continue supporting Porsche with my Formula E experience.

    Lotterer on the news.

    I’m looking forward to continuing my work with Porsche and supporting the team in this challenging and diverse racing series. It’s a great job. I can better familiarise myself with the Porsche 99X Electric and gain crucial experience for further career steps in Formula E.

    Beckmann on continuing with the team.

  • Berlin Track gets a fresh revamp for Season 10

    The unmissable German round on the calendar is getting a big shake up for the new season, with a new layout and a new test to tackle at Tempelhof from the 11th to 12th May 2024.

    Berlin has been the only location to have featured every season on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Calendar, soon entering its 10th season.

    Aside from a street circuit in the country’s capital, used in Season 2, the all-electric championship has raced around the iconic Tempelhof Airport on 17 occasions, on a variety of layouts.
    As well as being host to the Berlin E-Prix, the venue became a unique destination for the championship when it held six races during nine days over the pandemic at the end of Season 6.

    The most recent layout used in 2023 was a 2.355km track that generated an incredible 362 overtakes over the two days of racing – including eight different race leaders which was a new record for Formula E. But things, are now becoming bigger and better, with a longer circuit and even more corners for this new season.

    Over the two days of action, Formula E will be racing on the modified 2.585km layout with 15 stunning corners and several longer straights.
    The changes have been brought in as a result of development work at the Tempelhof Airport, with Formula E’s track designers seizing the opportunity to create a new layout for the circuit.

    The circuit is already a challenge for the drivers due to the abrasive track surface, meaning they really have to nurse their tyres on the asphalt.

    The new Berlin Tempelhof layout retains all the soul of the old circuit, while presenting new challenges for drivers and teams – putting skill behind the wheel as well as efficiency and energy consumption truly to the test. The combination of fast, medium and slow-speed corners will give rise to a number of different set-up choices, handing the advantage to different drivers in different parts of the lap, while two major overtaking zones mean exciting races are guaranteed!

    Pablo Martino, Formula E Head of Sporting Matters, FIA.

    In the history of Formula E, the Berlin E-Prix and its iconic location at Tempelhof Airport has always been a great and firm asset to our championship. In the history of Formula E, the Berlin E-Prix and its iconic location at Tempelhof Airport has always been a great and firm asset to our championship. As always, on the sporting event preparation and delivery, Formula E will continue to be supported by the DMSB and the professional sporting club ADAC, which we take the opportunity to thank for their loyalty and affection to our electric series.

    Claudia Denni, Sporting Director Formula E.

  • Formula E announces biggest Calendar yet

    Formula E confirms the full calendar for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with Italy’s Misano World Circuit hosting a Formula E race for the first time, and Portland expanding to a doubleheader weekend to create a 17 race season, the biggest calendar to date.

    The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the addition of Misano to the Formula E schedule, which makes it the third new venue alongside Tokyo and Shanghai.

    The Misano track is located close to the Rimini beach resort in the historic Emilia-Romagna region on the northern Adriatic coast. It is a popular venue in the MotoGP World Championship and the home circuit of legendary rider Valentino Rossi.
    Formula E will race at Misano on Saturday 13th April and Sunday 14th April.

    The debut race at the Portland International Raceway last season was seen as an experiment for Formula E, offering a wide, open track compared to the compact street circuits that remain the hallmark of Formula E racing.

    The race was hailed a success by fans, race teams and organisers alike as tickets sold out and the 22 drivers were able to showcase the potential of their revolutionary GEN3 race cars in a completely new environment, delivering a record-breaking 403 passes in the 32 lap race.

    Portland’s double header will be on Saturday 29th June and Sunday 30th June, the penultimate race weekend of the season.

    Formula E is a great opportunity for our country and after many wonderful years in Rome, the next Italian E-Prix will be held in Misano in 2024. It is important that Italy welcomes this event that promotes sustainable mobility and has an extraordinary charm. Motorsport holds a special place in the heart of Italians, and we have learned to appreciate these new cars that bring hope for the future and deliver a legacy of cutting-edge technology.

    Andrea Abodl, Minister of Sport.

    The choice of Misano to be the Italian stage of Formula E is another recognition of the extraordinary teamwork that has made Emilia-Romagna the Italian region with the highest number of sporting events in the country. Particularly in motorsport, this event adds to the return of Formula 1 to Imola, and MotoGP and Superbike which have all taken place on the circuit. Congratulations to the organizers for this new milestone, it sends a very important message beyond its sporting value: Formula E is the first and only sport to be certified net zero carbon since inception and reminds us how the fight against climate change is the priority in this historical moment.

    Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Emilia-Romagna region.

    We are excited to race at the historic Misano track for the first time and introduce the huge local motorsport fanbase to Formula E’s uniquely competitive racing. Everyone associated with the track and region has been incredibly enthusiastic in welcoming Formula E to the area, and I would like to thank them for their support. The same message goes to the local promoter and officials in Portland, we cannot wait to return for a full weekend of racing and entertainment in the City of Roses.

    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E.

    Formula E delivers street racing better than anyone, and our final Season 10 calendar presents the ultimate challenge for teams and drivers in the second year of the GEN3 race car with the perfect blend of iconic street circuits and established tracks. Misano will be a great new experience for everyone, while the additional race in Portland signifies our ongoing commitment to the US market alongside the potential for growth in the region.

    Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E.

  • Andretti announce Zane Maloney as Reserve & Development Driver

    Andretti Global has announced that Zane Maloney has been names as Andretti Formula E’s Reserve and Development Driver for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Maloney joins full-time teammates, reigning World Champion Jake Dennis and Formula E race winner, Norman Nato to complete Andretti Formula E’s Season 10 line-up.

    The Formula 2 and Red Bull Junior Team driver made his Formula E debut with Andretti at the 2023 SABIC Berlin E-Prix rookie session, finishing the day with the third quickest time overall.

    Maloney earned another opportunity with the team in a Free Practice session at the 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix, as well as a rooking outing at the official Season 10 test in Valencia.

    The Barbadian will actively support the team in his official role with simulator development work at Andretti Formula E’s Banbury headquarters and will attend race events throughout Season 10, starting at the Formula E opener in Mexico City on January 13th.

    Joining Andretti Formula E as the official reserve and development driver is an incredible opportunity. I’m grateful for the trust the team has placed in my abilities, and I’m determined to support Jake and Norman as best I can. The Andretti name has such a rich history in motorsport, so it’s a pretty surreal moment for me in my career. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s continued success in Season 10.

    Maloney on the news.

    We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Zane, and his dedication, talent and enthusiasm really stood out to us. Not only has he proven himself in other racing series, but also on multiple occasions during the rookie sessions where he demonstrated an excellent understanding of our GEN3 car. We are delighted to have Zane join us as our Reserve and Development Driver and look forward to working closely with him throughout the coming season.

    Team Principal, Roger Griffiths.

  • Mahindra sign Kush Maini as Reserve Driver

    Mahindra Racing has signed Indian driver Kush Maini as a reserve driver for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The 23 year old from Bangalore joins the team after an impressive rise through the FIA single-seater pathway over the past seven years.

    He started in Italian F4 back in 2016, where he subsequently enjoyed success in British Formula 3, the Formula Renault Eurocup, FIA Formula 3 and at present, competes in FIA Formula 2 and scored his first podium in Melbourne, Australia this year.

    Maini, a protege of two-time Formula 1 champion Mika Hakkinen will work closely with Edoardo Mortara and Nyck de Vries and closely in conjunction with fellow reserve driver, Jordan King.
    His role will involve simulator sessions, attendance at selected at selected E-Prix to support the team, and possible opportunities to test the team’s M10Electro race car in the future.

    It’s a huge honour to be joining Mahindra Racing, being an Indian driver, and the team being Indian, it feels in many ways like coming home. A lot of my work will be concentrated on the simulator, and hopefully getting in the car for the Rookie Test. I’m just going to try and learn as much as I can, it’s a different style of racing. I’ll be doing as much work as possible on the sim with the engineers to try and be helpful for both Edoardo and Nyck, and to try and help push the team forward on-track. Mahindra is a huge manufacturer, so for me, it’s a massive deal to be signing with them. Being an Indian brand, it’s the cherry on top of the cake. I’m super excited to get started.

    Maini on the news.

    We are excited to welcome Kush to Mahindra Racing as a Reserve Driver. He has a great record that speaks for itself in the junior formulae and is an exciting talent to add to our driver lineup. We are a very future-focussed team, so the opportunity to support new and emerging talent, such as Kush, is one we are naturally keen to explore. We’ve been watching him in FIA Formula 2 this season, and believe he has all the key skills and attributes to help Mahindra Racing push on for greater success in the future. His synergy with Edoardo, Nyck and Jordan will play an important role in the team’s continued push for better performance on-track, and off-track he is a superb ambassador for India within motorsport.

    Mahindra Racing CEO, Fred Bertrand.

  • NIO 333 starts new era as ERT Formula E team

    ERT Formula E Team comes after the seven-season partnership with Chinese car manufacturer NIO draws to a conclusion as the long-standing team heads towards their 10th season with ambitious plans for this new chapter.

    The outfit are coming off the back of one of their best seasons in recent years. In the hands of Dan Ticktum and Sergio Sette Camara, who will continue with team in Season 10, the combined effort saw one of the team’s best seasons in recent years.

    The pair demonstrated an impressive one-lap pace with 10 Duels appearances, converting these top 10 starting positions into nine point-scoring finished and ending the season in ninth in the overall Teams’ standings.

    Based out of their headquarters at the Silverstone Race Circuit, as part of the ERT ‘rebirth’ the team will look to commercialise their technology and IP and apply this on track learning to road products, along with supporting the wider industry to push sustainable transport solutions.

    ERT have been in the series since the dawn of Formula E, with Nelson Piquet Jnr taking the inaugural Drivers’ title with the team in the 2014/15 season. There have been a few name changes since then with NIO joining the squad in Season 3.

    We are proud to unveil our new identity as the ERT Formula E Team, it is an exciting step in our journey. As the only manufacturer Formula E team that is not currently tied to an OEM, our powertrain and software development has been done independently, putting us in a unique position. Utilising what we have learnt on track, we have already identified that we have a lot to offer in terms of improving electric vehicle performance, not just in relation to powertrains but whole vehicle engineering support and solutions, something which is already proving of interest within the automotive and motorsport industries. It is a natural progression for us to move forward commercialising this knowledge with the increasing global adoption of EVs, particularly as Formula E provides such a strong platform for OEMs and as such our conversations with partners in this arena are already advanced.

    Alex Hui, Team Principal for ERT.

  • China and India join USA & Japan to stage Formula E races

    The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship today announced a return to China and India for the milestone 10th season, which makes it the only motorsport to stage events during 2024 in the world’s three most populous countries: China, India and USA.

    Shanghai and Hyderabad were confirmed as host cities in Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship following approval at the FIA World Motorsport Council meeting on 19th October.

    Formula E will race for the first time in Shanghai at the Shanghai International Circuit with a double-header of races on Saturday 25th May and Sunday 26th May 2024.
    The first ever Formula E race was held in Beijing on 13th September 2015 with a second instalment following a year later. Sanya then hosted the most recent Chinese E-Prix in 2019, with Formula E also racing in Hong Kong on four occasions over three seasons between Seasons 2 and 5.

    Hyderabad will host Formula E again on Saturday 10th February 2024, with the support from the Telangana Government and Minister K. T. Rama Rao and following the 31,000 capacity sold out-debut race in February this year.

    There are two more updates to the Season 10 calendar. The event planned for Jakarta on Saturday 8th June will not go ahead following the announcement of a campaigning period in the Indonesian presidential elections during most of June.
    This would impact the logistics of delivering a race on the streets of the capital city at the same time.

    The second update is a likely venue change in Italy for Rounds 7 and 8. This follows a review by experts at Formula E and the FIA into the Season 9 races in Rome, where the new faster cars reached the limits of the narrow, sharp turning circuit in Rome.
    Formula E is exploring alternative venues, including permanent circuit to maintain an event in the key Italian market. An update on the venue is expected before the end of the year.

    Without doubt our Season 10 calendar is the most compelling yet for drivers, teams, fans and viewers around the world. We are taking Formula E to Shanghai for the first time and are honoured to return to India thanks to the support of the Telangana Government and Minister K. T. Rama Rao. The combination of street circuits, which is in Formula E’s DNA, and established race tracks will allow drivers to push the capabilities of the GEN3 car harder and further after a first season that beat all expectations with triple-digit overtakes in most races and the world championship titles decided on the final weekend.

    Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E.

    Formula E will lead global motorsport next season as the only world championship to race in the three biggest markets of China, India and the USA. Together with our debut on the streets of Tokyo and races in other major global markets like Brazil, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the UK, we have built a calendar that has the potential to engage billions of people in the exciting, entertaining, electric future of motorsport.

    Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E.

  • Porsche confirm driver line-up

    There’s no change at TAG Heuer Porsche for Season 10 as the factory team retains the race-winning services of both Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa in 2024, completing the grid for the historic tenth season of Formula E.

    Season 9 was TAG Heuer Porsche’s best season in Formula E to date as the legendary marque wrapped up four wins and a total of seven podiums, and the factory outfit will keep what’s working with the drivers Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa continuing behind the wheel of the Porsche 99X Electric.

    Wehrlein also rounded out one of his best in Formula E last season, the German was atop of the standings for the first half of the season after a commanding double-header domination in Diriyah at the start of the year. Adding a further victory in Jakarta and then ended up fourth overall.

    Former champion Da Costa joined Porsche ahead of Season 9 and after a somewhat unassuming start with the German outfit, he scored a debut podium in Hyderabad and the followed that up with an absolute overtaking masterclass in Cape Town with a daring move in the dying moments to take his first victory.

    The Portuguese driver had a rollercoaster season, ending up ninth overall but is ready to get back to work in the Valencia pre-season test.

    The test in Valencia marks the start of the new season. We’ve been busy with preparations for weeks, and we’ve already done stints in the simulator. I’m certain we’ve made further progress. Last season we learned a lot, which we can build on now. For Valencia, it’s important to be well prepared to be able to roll out our test programme without any issues and gain further insights. There are some minor changes for the new season. Valencia will certainly help us to fully understand them. Then, we can get stuck in.

    Wehrlein on the news.

    I’m looking forward to Valencia. The test is always cool because all of the teams and drivers are there. This gives us a chance to show where we stand against the competition, to see where we’re already strong and where we might need to make some improvements. The preparation for Season 10 is going much better for me than last season’s preparation. I was new to the team last year and getting used to the car. This time everything is easier. I used the Formula E break to contest endurance races in the Porsche 963, spend time with my family and friends and prepare myself mentally and physically for the new season.

    Da Costa on the news.

  • DS Penske reveal Season 10 livery

    DS PENSKE is the first Formula E team to unveil their Season 10 livery, with it being “more golden” than their Season 9 livery which kicked off the Gen3 era.

    For the 2023/24 campaign, DS Penske has ditched a lot of the black from last season and replaced it with some more gold. They’ve essentially reversed where the chrome and black were last season which should make the DS E-TENSE FE23 glisten under the lights.

    The black and gold look first came about when the Techeetah link-up first started. The design is certainly more eye-catching than last season’s which was actually a fan favourite.

    Penske, and the drivers, are keen on the new season bringing a step up in performance befitting the multiple Drivers’ and Teams’ champions.
    The start of the Gen3 era was tough with Porsche and Jaguar power reigning supreme, but the work has been relentless in driving a turnaround for the new season.

    Unveiling the new livery is a very exciting moment because it marks the official start of a new adventure, a new challenge and a new season. We’re starting Season 10 with a new-look DS E-TENSE FE23, which is even better looking than last year’s car. It’s not only more beautiful, but also more visible – that’s what motorsport is all about.

    Eugenio Frazetti, Director of DS Performance

    Unveiling the new look of the car is always an exciting time of year for the team and I share everyone’s enthusiasm. This livery is undoubtedly more modern, more golden. Most importantly It is a checkpoint in the pre-season calendar, we are two weeks away from the official test days in Valencia, the whole team has been preparing very hard for this event and I can’t just wait to get started!

    Double Champion, Jean-Eric Vergne.

    I like this new livery, it looks fast and aggressive! We head into a new season and our ultimate goal is to deliver strong performances and return to points-paying finishes. Racing at the front requires resilience, hard work and determination, I will leave no stone unturned in the chase for every millisecond and get our black and gold car back in front!

    Season 8 Champion, Stoffel Vandoorne.

  • Di Grassi to drive for ABT CUPRA

    Lucas di Grassi will be returning “home” to the team he won the Formula E Drivers’ title with back in Season 3 as ABT CUPRA confirmed he’ll be racing for the squad alongside the returning Nico Mueller in Season 10.

    Di Grassi is among the most successful drivers in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship history and is an ever-present in the series, and ABT – under the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler guise – was the team that helped steer him to the top spot in the Drivers’ table back in 2016/17.

    The Brazilian returns to the squad where he enjoyed a successful seven-year spell for the second Gen3 campaign and CUPRA’s second season in partnership with ABT, after a spell at Mahindra Racing in Season 9 and at Venturi prior to that.

    The 39 year old’s Formula E CV is as strong as it gets. Di Grassi has won the most trophies of all Formula E drivers (40), taken the most victories (13) and the most TAG Heuer Fastest Laps (12) plus he is one of only two drivers to have been on the podium at least once in every season.

    Lucas will be competing alongside Nico Mueller for the first time for his new old team at the official ABB FIA Formula E World Championship tests in Valencia. All drivers of the championship will meet in Spain from 23rd to 27th October to prepare for the upcoming season.

    It just feels great to be back with ABT. Not only did I win two titles with this team, but I also have endless memories with all the people who work there with so much passion. I couldn’t be more excited to return after two years and I’m really looking forward to working together. Together, we will give our all to get back, step by step, the results that the whole team deserves.

    Di Grassi on the move.

    We know about the great challenge of battling against international competition as a small customer team. That’s why experience, technical know-how and full passion for the joint project count all the more for us – with Lucas, we have the perfect man on board for the future.

    Thomas Biermaier, ABT CEO and Team Principal.

  • Vergne & Vandoorne extend DS PENSKE deals

    Formula E champions, Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne are set to continue with DS PENSKE through Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Vergne has been part of the DS axis since his second title-winning year in 2018/19 and moved to his current team in 2023 after the Stellantis brand parted ways with Techeetah and joined forces with the Dragon/Penske Autosport operation.

    The Frenchman scored DS PENSKE’s sole victory of 2023 in Hyderabad en route to fifth in the drivers’ standings, behind championship protagonists Jake Dennis, Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy as well as Porsche’s early title contender Pascal Wehrlein.

    Vandorne headed into Season 9 as reigning champion but couldn’t string the momentum together for a successful title defence at the beginning of the Gen3 era.
    He ended up finishing 11th overall in the standings, with a best finish of fourth in Monaco.

    I’m very happy to continue the adventure with DS PENSKE. As one chapter closes, we have to focus on what is ahead. I love racing, and above all, I love winning. It’s a very special feeling that I want to live again with the team. I have a real relationship of trust with the engineers and the mechanics, their dedication and hard work is truly inspiring. I want to reward the belief that Jay Penske and the rest of the team placed in me. At a start of a season, all the points start back to zero. With Stoffel, we form a solid duo. We had a couple of good races and we are working extremely hard to come back to the top.We just got to try and do better, we will not stop until we do. My absolute focus and determination are at the highest, my motivation totally intact, even greater than the years before to bring some new titles with the team.

    Vergne on staying with the team.

    I am delighted to continue the journey we started a year ago with the team. Consistency and stability will be the foundations of our future success. JEV and I are one of the best duos on the set. We have made some significant steps over the last season and we are getting stronger together. Consistency in performance is our aim for this upcoming season. The ultimate goal is to win the championship. I am excited to help continue to build on that momentum and pick up plenty of trophies with the team!

    Vandoorne on the news.

    I am very excited to continue with Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne behind the wheels of our GEN3 car. It was a straightforward decision for the team to keep intact what is unquestionably one of the strongest pairings on the grid. Season 9 was one of growth and we have learned from every success but also every setback. None of us were satified with finishing fifth in the championship. We know we can do better and with JEV and Stoffel bringing an incredibly high racing IQ combined with an unwaivering desire to win we intend to be challenging for the World Championship in Season 10.

    Jay Penske, Owner and Team Principal.