Formula E secures long-term future in China, new team joins the grid

Formula E teams are continuing to finalize their driver lineups ahead of the launch of the game-changing 2026-2027 World Championship later this year.

The all-electric championship’s upcoming thirteenth season will be the longest in Formula E history, with 21 rounds to be staged across the world and three new tracks joining the calendar.

The sport is also gearing up for its largest technical upgrade to date, as the current Formula E Gen3 Evo package will be completely replaced by the all-new Formula E GEN4 car.

Pre-season testing is set to kick off at Spain’s Circuito de Madrid Jarama from 16 to 20 November, and the opening race remains tentatively scheduled for 18 December in Saudi Arabia.

China – a world leader in electric vehicle technology – is set to play a starring role in the upcoming season and will be the only country to host three rounds during the 2026-2027 championship. ‘Silly season’ heats up The so-called silly season is well underway in Formula E circles as speculation surrounding driver transfers and contracts reaches fever pitch.

Remarkably, the 2025-2026 drivers’ world champion Pascal Wehrlein remains technically unsigned for the upcoming season, but the German racer is widely expected to remain at Porsche.

Marquee names like Nyck De Vries are also currently out of contract, though the Dutchman is also tipped to stay at Mahindra.

Unsurprisingly, Andretti motorsport will retain Felipe Drugovich and Jake Dennis for GEN4 on the back of a thrilling 2025-2026 campaign that saw Dennis narrowly miss out on the drivers’ championship.

Likewise, Citroën will retain both Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne and Kiwi Nick Cassidy.

Elsewhere, China-owned team Envision Racing has parted ways with both Swiss veteran Sebastien Buemi and Swede Joel Eriksson.

Eriksson, who delivered a surprise podium for Envision in Shanghai , leaves after just one full season with the team, while Buemi retired after racing in Formula E since the championship’s inception in 2014.

In their places, the Shanghai-backed green machines have chosen former Envision development driver Zak O’Sullivan and outgoing DS PENSKE driver Maximilian Günther.

“Max has proven how capable he is at delivering qualifying laps when it matters, as well as podium finishes and race wins,” Envision Racing team principal Sylvain Filippi said in a statement when the deal was announced.

Among the other moves in the paddock, Zane Maloney has officially shifted from Lola Yamaha to Nissan, where he will join longtime driver and former world champion Oliver Rowland.