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Formula E Silly Season Heating Up For Drivers, Teams

By Alex Herbst

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 16: Mitch Evans (NZL), Spark-Jaguar, Jaguar I-Type on track during the New York City ePrix, tenth round of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Series on July 16, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York City, NY, USA. (Photo by Andrew Ferraro/LAT Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 16: Mitch Evans (NZL), Spark-Jaguar, Jaguar I-Type on track during the New York City ePrix, tenth round of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Series on July 16, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York City, NY, USA. (Photo by Andrew Ferraro/LAT Images) /
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With a few months off for Formula E before the next season begins, lots of changes are underway in the all-electric championship, especially for drivers.

The wild offseason of changes is just beginning for the all-electric Formula E world championship. New manufacturers are on their way into the sport ahead of the next season, and for years to come.

Old venues are out, new and former street courses are back into the schedule. And perhaps the biggest changes will come with some of the expected (or unexpected) driver moves these next few months.

Already many expect to see a few new names contend for full-time Formula E seats for 2017-18. Formula One drivers Felipe Nasr, Jolyon Palmer, and Felipe Massa could all be on the move into the all-electric championship.

Meanwhile, part timers from last season like Pierre Gasly and Mike Conway could look for full-time competition. Finally, the shutdown of teams in DTM and the WEC could lead to a fresh driver infusion.

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Existing teams have already begun discussions with current Formula E drivers. Jaguar Racing is reportedly expected to move on from driver Adam Carroll, opening up at least one of the twenty seats on the grid.

Contenders could include DS Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird and Jose Maria Lopez, with the Citroen-backed brand potentially shifting elsewhere to Techeetah. Could this then inspire a move for Stephane Sarrazin? Unlikely considering the French connection.

Another team that could have their driver lineup shaken up is NextEV NIO. Nelson Piquet Jr. may have won the first championship in Formula E with the team, but years trapped in the mid-pack may inspire a move elsewhere for him.

That move could be to MS Amlin Andretti, who reportedly is prepared to move on from Robin Frijns ahead of BMW’s investment in the team. Antonio Felix Da Costa, meanwhile, would remain with the American outfit.

Perhaps one of the wild cards with next year’s Formula E lineup is the preparations for the arrival of Mercedes and Porsche in the coming years. Both automakers have a bevy of factory drivers they can lean on, but could they sign a deal early with an existing Formula E driver to help them get up to speed in the electric racing field? This could ensure a top competitive ride by the end of the decade, despite the driver sacrificing a year or two of no competition.

Next: Is Formula E the Future of Racing?

What big driver changes do you think could be on the horizon for Formula E in the next year? Be sure to keep it with Beyond The Flag for all the latest news, rumors, and analysis coming out of the Formula E paddock this offseason.

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