Kieran McDonnell

Formula E returns next week for Pre Season Testing in Valencia so here is everything you need to know before the first session of Season 11 begins! 

The ABB FIA Formula E Gen3-Evo car is an evolution from the Gen-3 car, first being raced in Season 9. Many major evolution changes have taken place, presumably to be taken up for Gen-4 as well.

• • All Wheel Drive (AWD): One major change is the use of all wheel drive for these electric cars. This will be useable in qualifying, the duels and the race for active attack mode. This will supply more active overtakes and some tactical strategy. 

• • Faster acceleration: The Gen-3 Evo is estimated to be the fastest FIA single seater car in terms of acceleration, going from 0-60 in 1.82 seconds, 30% faster than the current Formula 1 car.

• • More Grip: The new specified Hancook tyres will supply the drivers will more grip and made from more recycled parts. This will increase to 10% compared to the 9% from Gen-3.

• • New body: The Gen-3 Evo will have a sleeker body in comparison to the Gen-3 car.

 

As shown on the images above, the Gen3 Evo (left) has seen the majority of its bodywork similar to Gen3 (right). The most obvious changes are:

• More bodywork on the front wing to stop the endplates detaching. 
• Gen3 Evo has more of a sleek and smooth design in comparison to Gen3 to improve aerodynamics.
• The mirrors are bigger to allow more of a viewpoint for the drivers.

The calendar for ABB FIA Formula E Season 11 has some quite big changes, some classics remain, others are gone, venues have been changed and others have been added. Lets have a look!

 

Overall, the calendar is generally similar to Season 10, however there are some pretty major changes:

• The first round will happen last THIS year, in comparison to starting in Mexico City in January in previous years. 
• There are a few more double headers, including the iconic Monaco E-Prix. 
• Diriyah has been removed with the Jeddah Cornic circuit replacing the street track. It is understood that it will be a shorter version for Formula E in comparison to the layout Formula 1 and Formula 2 races at.
• There is a “TBC” slot for round 5, rumoured to be related to an E-Prix in Thailand.
• We are NOT returning to Portland, a first for this era for gen-3 and instead we head to Miami. 
• The Berlin E-Prix double header has been moved to July but there will still be a clash with the World Endurance Championship. 

Formula E is no stranger to crazy driver silly seasons, as Season 10 saw champions returning, drivers retained and other drivers let go. However, with Season 11, there are some changes which I did not expect to see. Lets see who is remaining, shall we?

Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team: Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix Da Costa.

This one is a half-surprise, half-not a surprise. Throughout the start of Season 10, Season 7 champion Da Costa really struggled to be up to pace with teammate eventual champion Wehrlein. However, he pulled off what can only be described as a comeback of the greats as he managed 4 wins over 3 races in the latter half of the season. This managed to save his seat at the German team despite rumours of a certain Abt Cupra driver being poised to hop in. That plan has, for now, been placed on the backburner. 

Season 10 champion Pascal Wehrlein staying at Porsche is no surprise, however, due to his sheer determination to snatch the title from the 2 Kiwi’s of Cassidy and Evans going into the double header in London. The pairing is a strong one in which Porsche will hope to repeat their success from last year.

Jaguar TCS Racing: Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans

This is not a big shock as both Cassidy and Evans were on par for the vast majority of the season. Luck had its advantages and disadvantages for both drivers throughout the entire season as well as some driver errors, most noteably the error Cassidy made on the penultimate lap in Portland which cost him the championship and Evans wasn’t able to capitalise as much as he potentially should have when Cassidy failed to reach the top step or even the podium. Still, Jaguar are using a tried and tested method of stability within their team which will hopefully pay dividends.

Envision Racing: Sebastian Buemi and Robin Frijns.

This driver lineup is…a bit of a shock. Buemi and Frijns both had decent seasons with podiums for both drivers but due to the clashes with the World Endurance Championship (WEC), changes were expected from the Jaguar customer team. Nevertheless, a strong lineup with a lot of experience but with many younger drivers joining this grid and others in seperate series’ like Paul Aron who raced for Envision last year in Berlin in Formula 2 and even Victor Martins, this duo could be under pressure to deliver.

Mahindra Racing: Nyck De Vries and Edoardo Mortara.

This duo was not too much of a surprise either. De Vries struggled after his stint in Formula One with Alpha Tauri which wasn’t exactly what everyone wanted to see. Nyck did the one thing he could do: get back up! He got a deal to return to Formula E with Mahindra and he found his grove at the end of the season, with a sensational P4 finish in Shanghai! Him and Mortara could be the future of Mahindra. both have the experience to do well.

DS Penske: Jean-Eric Vergne and Maximilian Guenther: 

While one stays at DS-Penske, one shall leave. The one replacing the Season 8 champion is the driver who did an insane job in the CUSTOMER team of Maserati MSG Racing: Maximilian Guenther! Yes, Guenther gets the promotion to the Stallantes main team for the GEN3-Evo debut! Vergne will remain at the gold and black coloured schemed American manufacturer team but he will be hoping new boy Guenther doesn’t overthrow him.

Neom McLaren Formula E Team: Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard. 

McLaren will enter Season 11 as a race winner and from the minute the lights go out in Sao Paulo, the pressure will be on for Sam Bird to replicate his win in the Brazilian capital. Beside him will be a Briton, but it won’t be Jake Hughes. Instead will be Sam Bird’s replacement when he had to miss Monaco and Berlin last year: Taylor Barnard. After a debut season in Formula 2 with a debut win at Monaco in the sprint race, McLaren saw enough in the 19 year old to send him up and allow Jake Hughes to set sail. 

Maserati MSG Racing: Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne:

 The Monaco based team will have an entirely new lineup in Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne. It looked like both drivers wanted a fresh chapter and a new challenge with them leaving their former teams, both are proven winners and it will be interesting to see if they can finally gift Maserati some success.

Andretti Formula E: Jake Dennis and Nico Mueller:

When 1 stays, 1 goes. After 1 season at Andretti, Norman Nato departs for another team (more on that soon) but in his place is the underdog of Season 10; Nico Mueller. Nico comprehensively beat his experienced teammate of Lucas Di Grassi at Abt Cupra and earned a promotion up to the customer team of Porsche. As the former world champion of Jake Dennis remains at Andretti, Season 11 could be a big test for both drivers.

Nissan Formula E Team: Norman Nato and Oliver Rowland: 

As previously revealed, Norman Nato moved to another team, well that team is the same team that let him go after Season 9. Nato returns and replaces Sacha Fenestraz after the Argentinian driver underdelivered in his 2nd season in Formula E in comparison to his teammate who won many races and podiums. Oliver and Norman will both be wanting to make a mark on each other in Gen3 EVO. 

Lola Yamaha Abt: Lucas Di Grassi and Zane Maloney:

While not unexpected, Di Grassi remains at Abt to help them transition into Lola Yamaha Abt. Besides Di Grassi is a driver who set the 2024 season of Formula 2 alight at the beginning of the new regulations: Zane Maloney. The Boy from Barbados joins the team as a rookie after doing sessions with Andretti. This will be an important season for both Lola and Maloney as they both embark on a new motorsport journey.

Kiro Race Co: TBC and TBC

Don’t worry, TBC aren’t the 2 new driver names but ERT has transitioned into Kiro Race Co. after new investors were brought in. In another massive bombshell, the team is no longer and manufacturer as they now run older Porsche powertrains which have been modified for Gen 3 Evo. Both drivers have not been confirmed yet but rumours suggest Dan Ticktum will remain at the team while the pre season testing at Valencia will be seen as an audition for David Beckmann.  

As with a new season, cars have been launched! While not every team has announced their Season 11 liveries, here are some which have been announced! Jaguar’s Livery is for pre season testing only.

Announced a few weeks ago, Formula E will be running a fully woman’s test in Valencia. This is a big step forward for equality in the sport as well as gathering more feedback. The test will take place on November 7th in Valencia.

Driver lineups: 

Andretti Formula E: Chloe Chambers and Nerea Marti

Both of these drivers are currently in F1 Academy, with Marti in her second and final year and Chambers confirmed to be continuing in 2025 as well as joining the Red Bull family after being supported by Haas in her rookie season. Both have scored one win with Marti in Le Castelle in 2023 and Chambers in Barcelona. 

Neom McLaren Formula E Team: Bianca Bustamante and Ella Lloyd 

Bustamante is supported by McLaren in her second and final year of the F1 Academy series with multiple podiums and race wins behind her name. Ella Lloyd, however, was a wild card at a previous event and managed to impress a lot of people. She impressed McLaren with her talent so much that she joined their academy and will take over the keys when Bustamante leaves F1 Academy after this year to continue on the papaya colours. 

Envision Racing: Alisha Palmowski and Alice Powell

Palmowski has won many events in the past including being vice champion in GB4 in 2024 with 3 wins and 11 podiums. She has also made it through to the final 10 of the Autosport Young Driver Award. Powell has participated in W-Series prior to its administration in 2022. She won races in the series against a few drivers on this list and is now coaching F1 Academy standings leader Abbi Pulling. 

Maserati MSG Racing: Tatiana Calderon and Carrier Schreiner: 

The 2 ladies participating under the Monegasque team have a lot of experience. Calderon has participated in Formula 2, Super Formula, World Endurance Championship in LMP2 class and Indycar. Schreiner is currently racing in F1 Academy with Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber supporting her. 

Tag Heur Porsche Formula E Team: Marta Garcia and Gabriela Jilkova. 

Garcia is the reigning F1 Academy champion after competing in the series’ debut season with Prema Racing. She has raced in FRECA this season. Jilkova is a simulator and development driver for the German team with 43 laps being completed last year. 

Nissan Formula E Team: Abbi Pulling and Sophia Floesch: 

Pulling currently leads the F1 Academy standings as they enter the final 2 rounds at Qatar and Abu Dhabi in November and December. She is racing under the Alpine colours. Floesch is also in the Alpine family with her finishing another Formula 3 season. 

DS Penske: Jess Edgar and Beitski Visser

Edgar made her single seater debut in 2022 with GB4, picking up 1 podium in round 2. She made the jump to F1 Academy last year with her picking up 1 victory last year at Circuit Of The Americas. She is currently racing in F1 Academy again for her final year. Visser has competed in Formula 4, Formula 3.5 and W Series with many points being picked up. 

Lola Yamaha Abt: Miki Koyama

Koyama became the first female to win in a FIA Championship in Formula Regional Japanese Championship in 2022. She is also currently a Toyota Gazoo Racing development driver with competing in W-Series from 2019 to 2021. Lola Yamaha Abt have not yet announced a second female driver for this session.

Jaguar, Mahindra and Kiro Race Co have not announced either drivers yet. 

 

Recently, it was announced that 2 teams broke the cost cap for the first year of Gen3: Jaguar and Nissan. Both teams were fined €100,000 and €300,000 respectfully. As a result of this, both teams will miss the first half day of testing. 

These have been described as a “Minor Breach” according to Formula E and the FIA with the breaches being in the region of “procedural and minor overspending”. 

Both teams have issued statements. 

Nissan describing the outcome and the result  as “…exclusively related to the process of interpretation and adaptation of the new financial regulations at a time when the team was also facing specific challenges…”

Jaguar said that “we believe that had we filed correctly we would have been fully compliant with the teams’ cost cap and the minor overspend breach would not have occurred”. 

Both statements are from the Formula E article announcing these breaches. 

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