The fifth season of the world’s leading electric racing league is about to start this weekend with all-new cars, a new format, new teams and new drivers. Here’s the quick run-down of all the teams and respective drivers that will be competing on the Formula-E grid this year:
Audi ABT Sport Schaeffler
After their spectacular performance in the second half of S4 to win the Constructor’s Championship, Audi ‘s FE team retains both their drivers for yet another season – Daniel Abt and Lucas Di Grassi. The Audi e-tron FE05 uses the Audi Schaeffler MGU03 with 1-speed transmission powertrain setup.
Drivers
Lucas di Grassi
Wins: 8
Podiums: 27
Age: 34
From: Brazil
Daniel Abt
Wins: 2
Podiums: 8
Age: 26
From: Germany
BMW i Andretti Motorsport
The Andretti Motorsport team has been part of Formula E since the first season but it is now participating as BMW’s factory team. Their driver line up consists of Antonio Felix da Costa and newcomer Alexander Sims who also races for BMW in other GT racing series including WEC. Last year, the Andretti team had a variety of racers as Da Costa’s teammates including Kobayashi and Sarrazin. The drivers will pilot the BMW iFE.18.
Drivers
Antonio Felix da Costa
Wins: 1
Podiums: 1
Age: 27
From: Portugal
Alexander Sims
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 29
From: UK
DS Techeetah
DS is now with team Techeetah as the Chinese-owned racing team gears up with the Gen2 racecars. Their driver lineup remains unchanged with reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne and the fierce competitor that is Andre Lotterer.
Drivers
Jean-Eric Vergne
Wins: 5
Podiums: 15
Age: 28
From: France
Andre Lotterer
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Age: 37
From: Germany
Envision Virgin Racing
Virgin Racing has partnered with Envision Group for S5 of FE and their Gen2 racecar will now use the powertrain from Audi Sport. Sam Bird continues to be their lead driver who is now joined by Robin Frijns. Robin raced for Andretti in S2 and S3 and now returns, filling the seat vacated by Alex Lynn.
Drivers
Sam Bird
Wins: 7
Podiums: 15
Age: 31
From: UK
Robin Frijns
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 27
From: Netherlands
Geox Dragon
The Dragon Racing team has been renamed as Geox Dragon and will be competing in the fifth season of FE with their new Gen2 Penske EV-3 racecar. They retain Jose-Maria Lopez as their lead driver who will be partnered by rookie Maximilian Guenther.
Drivers
Jose Maria Lopez
Wins: 0
Podiums: 2
Age: 35
From: Argentina
Maximilian Guenther
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 21
From: Germany
HWA Racelab
A completely new participant in Formula E, HWA AG comes from a rich history in motorsports and being the most successful outfit in the history of DTM series with 180 race wins since 1988. Their Gen2 FE racecar has been supplied by Venturi Automobiles which will be piloted by two first-time FE drivers. But they come with good experience: 2018 DTM Champion Gary Paffett and 2018 driver for McLaren F1, Stoffel Vandoorne. This will also be the team that will make the base for Mercedes-Benz to join the electric racing scene.
Drivers
Gary Paffett
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 37
From: UK
Stoffel Vandoorne
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 26
From: Belgium
Mahindra Racing
After a strong start in the fourth season with Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing tailed off in the championship following technical difficulties and collisions and finished fourth. For their fifth season, the Indian-owned racing team is keen to get the results they are clearly capable of with the new Gen2 racecar and a new driver lineup. Former Dragon driver Jerome d’Ambrosio will take the lead alongside ex-F1 driver Pascal Wehrlein who will make his debut in FE this season. Meanwhile, Nick Heidfeld is now the development driver for Mahindra-owned Automobili Pininfarina who are building an electric hypercar.
Drivers
Jerome d’Ambrosio
Wins: 2
Podiums: 7
Age: 33
From: Germany
Pascal Wehrlein
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 24
From: Belgium
NIO
The racing team from electric EV maker NIO who built the record-breaking EP9 hypercar enters the fifth season after a tough year last time around. Their pilots for the Gen2 car will be Oliver Turvey joined by former Venturi-driver, Tom Dillmann.
Drivers
Oliver Turvey
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Age: 31
From: UK
Tom Dillmann
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 29
From: France
Nissan e.dams
The e.dams team won three out of four team’s championship titles in FE with Renault. But for S5, they will be partnering with Nissan, the Japanese manufacturer which is in alliance with Renault for production cars. Nissan has their own history with EVs in terms of the LEAF and with motorsport via Nismo. Using the most of both worlds, they have developed a new powertrain for the Gen2 racecar. The e.dams team retains former FE champion Sebastian Buemi as their lead driver who will be joined by Oliver Rowland who came in last minute after original pick Alex Albon from F2 got signed by Toro Rosso in F1 for 2019.
Drivers
Sebastian Buemi
Wins: 12
Podiums: 21
Age: 30
From: Switzerland
Oliver Rowland
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 26
From: UK
Panasonic Jaguar Racing
Jaguar hopes to build on the experience from their last two seasons of FE and are looking forward to a big year with the I-Pace eTrophy series at select venues on the S5 calendar. They retain both drivers – Nelson Piquet Jr. and Mitch Evans to pilot the new Gen2 Jaguar I-Type 3 racecars.
Drivers
Nelson Piquet Jr
Wins: 2Podiums: 5
Age: 33
From: Brazil
Mitch Evans
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Age: 24
From: New Zealand
Venturi
The Monaco-based team continues to be part of Formula E for the fifth season in a row but has not enjoyed much success on the track. However, they have high hopes this year with Susie Wolff as Team Principal, ex-F1 driver Felipe Massa making his electric racing debut and retaining Edoardo Mortara in the lineup.
Drivers
Felipe Massa
Wins: 0
Podiums: 0
Age: 37
From: Brazil
Edoardo Mortara
Wins: 0
Podiums: 1
Age: 31
From: Switzerland
Pick your favourite and follow their progress through the season here and on fiaformulae.com! Share your thoughts in the comments below and subscribe to stay tuned to the Auto Loons for more updates on Formula E.
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